Resilience in Law Enforcement: Thriving in the Face of Adversity

Vince Davenport is Associate Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance in Washington, DC.  He oversees the Law Enforcement Division within the Policy Office of the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The Policy Office provides national leadership in criminal justice policy, training, and technical assistance. It also acts as a liaison to national organizations that partner with BJA to set policy and help disseminate information on best and promising practices. He is a former police commander who served for 25 years with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department.  He holds master's degrees in Public Administration and International Studies from the University of Kansas.

Dr. Saltzberg is a curriculum developer and lead instructor for the Penn Resilience Programs at the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center. She earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Center for Cognitive Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Saltzberg has lectured internationally on Positive Psychology and cognitive therapy topics, and has taught resilience skills to a wide range of populations including law enforcement personnel, corporate leaders, U.S. Army personnel, primary and secondary educators, clinicians, and others. 

Sergeant Rich Creamer is a 20-year veteran of the Norfolk Police Department and is currently assigned to the Norfolk Police Department's Training Division, where he is responsible for the development, maintenance, and instruction of courses related to Critical Incident Stress Management and Peer Support. Sergeant Creamer also provides CISM/Peer Support services to the Norfolk Police Department as well as other emergency services agencies throughout the region while developing an evolving-based vision and mission for the Norfolk Police Department to reflect trends in public safety mental health and wellness. Sgt. Creamer currently works with the International Association of Chiefs of Police and University of Penn in the development and delivery of VALOR- Resiliency in Law Enforcement curriculum. Prior to his current assignment, Sgt. Creamer held a leadership position in the Criminal Intelligence Unit and has extensive experience in violent crime investigations and criminal street gangs. Sergeant Creamer holds both a Bachelor's degree from Old Dominion University in Sociology and a Master's degree from Liberty University in Human Services Counseling.  

Officer Stephanie Janiak is a three-year veteran of the Lincoln Police Department and is currently assigned to a patrol unit. She also works as an Internal Resource Officer and is responsible for providing crisis support to law enforcement. Officer Janiak is certified in Critical Incident Stress Management and Group Crisis Intervention as well as the VALOR Law Enforcement Resilience Training Program. She is passionate about mental health, specifically as it relates to law enforcement, and is a strong advocate for promoting officer wellness.