Stop checking the box: How to make police officer wellness part of the job

In law enforcement, wellness can’t be an afterthought — it must be part of the foundation of operations. That means moving beyond surface-level initiatives to fully integrating mental health support into operations, training and leadership strategies. From proactive threat assessment to long-term officer resilience and retirement planning, embedding behavioral health into daily practice is key to building a healthier, more effective agency. In this episode of the Policing Matters podcast, host Jim Dudley talks with Dr. Cherylynn Lee , a police psychologist with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, about weaving behavioral science into tactical operations, threat assessment and daily officer interactions. From co-responder units to retirement planning, Dr. Lee explains how agencies can proactively support both sworn and civilian staff. Read more from Dr. Lee on Police1 here . Connect with Dr. Lee on LinkedIn . About our sponsor This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol , the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com .