2017 Conference – Speakers

Stephanie Barone-McKenny

Stephanie Barone McKenny, Ph.D. is a police psychologist with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). She regularly provides services throughout LAPD as well as internationally, nationally, state-wide, locally, and at the university levels. She is a Diplomate in Sports Psychology and a Nationally Certified Sports Psychologist who has worked with Olympic, Division I, and other elite-athletes and coaches. Dr. McKenny has worked with specialized units across the nation, particularly air support units, on mental toughness skills, fatigue, psychological fitness for duty, and probable cause of accidents. She has served as a Safety Instructor for an international aviation association. And as the spouse of a Navy Captain and the sister of Lt. Colonel, she understands at a very personal level the sacrifices that our uniformed personnel make every day, but also the daily sacrifices of their spouses, children, and extended family. She places high value on law enforcement and military marriages and acknowledges the often unrecognized role that faith plays in maintaining the strength of such marriages.

Frank and Anna Bell

Frank Bell, Captain, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Apple Valley Station
Department Peer Support Team member
Board Member, Sheriff’s Employee Assistance Team (SEAT)
PSPSA Advisory Committee Member

Frank has been with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department since 1988. I am currently the Commanding Officer for the Apple Valley Station and one of two captains over the Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT). Prior to this assignment, I was the Captain over the Employee Resources Division. I became involved in peer support about 12 years ago and was the Department’s Peer Support “Lieutenant at large” in 2012-13 and the Peer Support Captain from 2014 to 2016.

Anna Bell is a Latent Fingerprint Examiner II, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in the Scientific Investigation Division.

She has been involved with Peer Support for nearly 11 years and have served with peer support associations as a committee member and board member over the past 5 years. She is currently the vice president of the Public Safety Peer Support Association. She is the Department Peer Support Team Coordinator, and is a board member of the Sheriff’s Employee Assistance Team (SEAT).

Anna earned a degree in Administrative Justice and after joining the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in 2004, became involved with our Peer Support Team. Prior to her career with the Sheriff’s Department, she worked in the Behavioral Health field and Pediatric care.

More than anything else, we enjoy spending time with our family. We have been married 24 years and have 3 daughters and 2 grandsons. We enjoy scuba diving, hiking and traveling. If it’s warm and tropical, we have been there or plan on going there!

Nancy K. Bohl-Penrod, Ph.D.

Dr. Bohl-Penrod is the Director of The Counseling Team International, which provides counseling, critical incident stress management, peer support training and consultations to more than 80 public safety agencies throughout the nation. She has trained more than 10,000 public safety peer supporters, and guides agencies on how to develop peer support and wellness programs.

She has been a guest speaker on subjects related to peer support and wellness for law enforcement and their families for the California’s Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), California Peace Officers Association (CPOA), Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) Academy, The United Nations, Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). She is also a trainer for the California State Long Beach POST Police Management Class and International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). Nancy has also been a guest speaker for the California Fire Training Offices (OSFM), California Fire Chiefs Association (CFCA), California State Sheriff’s Association (CSSA), California Police Chiefs Association (CPCA) and, California Hostage Negotiators (CAHN). She is a past president of the Police Psychological Services Section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, one of the founders of the Public Safety Peer Support Association and one of the authors of Public Safety Peer Support/Supervisor Coach APP found on Google and iTunes. Nancy is very excited and honored to have been asked to be a part of the very first association for public safety personnel/first responders.

James Brown

James who is commonly known as “JB” has been employed as a Peace Officer for over 31 years. JB started his career in law enforcement with the Sacramento Police Department in 1986. He presently works there as a Reserve Police Sergeant assigned to the Division of Special Operations. In addition to working part-time with the Sacramento Police Department he also works as a Police Lieutenant for the Fulton-El Camino Park District Police Department, which operates under the operations of the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department.

JB presently works full-time as a State Parole Agent for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation “CDCR”. He has been employed with CDCR since 1996. Prior to his position as a Parole Agent, he has worked as a Correctional Officer, Investigator and a Correctional Sergeant. JB has worked at California State Prison-Solano and California State Prison-Sacramento.

Additionally, he worked as an instructor at the Correctional Training Center in Galt, California, located in the County of Sacramento.
In addition to working in the above noted assignments JB has worked for the Elk Grove USD Police Department and the Twin Rivers USD Police Departments as a patrol officer, school resource officer and gang investigator.

In 2010 JB and his family received a phone call no parent ever wants to receive. He was informed his Son had been in a horrific and tragic vehicle accident. His story will emphasize on how one agency handled the news in a horrific way and another agency handled the situation in a way that was extremely helpful and beneficial to JB and his family.

JB has provided presentations to local law enforcement agency Peer Support groups, law enforcement Chaplin’s, religious organizations and in basic supervisor classes. His unique experience of having supervisors responding in both a negative and positive way has allowed JB to assist many in becoming a more effective employee while addressing loss both on and off the job.

Leonard Cosby and Shirl Tyner

Leonard is a retired police Lieutenant who served in law enforcement for 30 years. His entire career was with the Oceanside Police Department. His first two years were spent as a Parking Enforcement Officer and a Public Service Officer, which afforded him the opportunity to better understand the challenges facing civilian employees. The remainder of his career was in the capacity of a sworn police officer. His service included patrol officer, investigator, N.ET.work team member (C.O.P.), Peer Support Team Leader, Police Sergeant and Police Lieutenant. He is a graduate of the P. O. S. T. Supervisory Leadership Institute. Leonard has a B. A. from the University of California at Riverside and an M. A. C. E. and an M. Div. from the Talbot Graduate School of Theology. He currently serves as a Chaplain for both the Oceanside Police Department and the County of San Diego Probation Department. He is currently working on a doctorate at the Talbot Graduate School of Theology.

Shirl is a Professional Services Representative for Lexipol working with law enforcement agencies to customize and implement their policy manuals. She has 25 years of law enforcement experience as a civilian employee, serving with the Oceanside (CA) Police Department and the Tustin (CA) Police Department. Her tenure included positions as front desk officer, field officer, report writer, field evidence technician, N.E.T.work team member (C.O.P.), crime scene investigator and fraud investigator. In many of these areas she held supervisory positions and she served as a field training officer for 20 years. Shirl has experience as a Trauma Intervention Volunteer and has always been involved in peer support, with a special focus on PTSD. Her experience and exposure to crime scenes and police work in general, afford her a unique opportunity to understand the challenges faced by public safety members and their families. A graduate of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Leadership Institute, she has a B.S. in Psychology and a Graduate Certificate in Forensics and Crime Scene Investigations. She is currently working on a Master in Forensic Science and is writing her thesis on civilians in law enforcement and the effects of working in public safety. Shirl teaches Criminal Justice and Forensic courses at both the high school and college levels.

Elizabeth Dansie

Elizabeth Dansie, holds a Master’s Degree from St. Mary’s College Moraga and is a licensed Clinical Psychotherapist and Owner of The Psychological Services Group, a private, group practice located in Brentwood, California exclusively serving the first responder community throughout Northern California. Beth is an instructor for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, the author of the California Highway Patrol’s “Not One More Program” and for 24 years the trainer of the CHP Peer Support Team. After over 25 years of providing professional consulting, training and critical incident response services to the law enforcement profession she is proudest of being able to declare that she is the daughter, sister, wife and mother of police officers. Today she will be presenting along with her son, Scott Dansie, Operations Manager for The Psychological Services Group on the topic “Peer Support For the Injured, Absent, or Retired Employee.”

Scott Dansie

Scott Dansie is Operations Manager for The Psychological Services Group (PSG) and takes great pride in the motto “Dedicated Service to Those Who Serve.” Scott’s background as a 20-year veteran of law enforcement as well as his pedigree as the grandson, grandnephew, son, nephew and brother of law enforcement personnel facilitates his service to PSG. Scott’s duties which include Peer Services Coordinator, Organizational Administrator and Project Manager assists in creating a culturally competent focus within this highly specialized first responder practice. Scott served in many capacities in his law enforcement career including FTO program coordinator, ranger master, firearms instructor, defensive tactics instructor, motor officer, professional standards and policy development manager, patrol supervisor and watch commander. Scott completed ICISF’s Basic Group Crisis Intervention and Peer Support courses and is a graduate of the California Peace Officer Standards and Training Sherman Brock Supervisory Leadership Institute.

Ryan Dedmon

Ryan Dedmon is a retired emergency telecommunicator. He worked various assignments in local law enforcement in Southern California for nearly 12 years, a majority of which were spent in a police dispatch communications center answering 9-1-1 calls. In 2012, the Southern California chapter of APCO International awarded him “Telecommunicator of the Year”, the highest honor for public-safety telecommunicators in Southern California.

Ryan currently serves as the Outreach Director and Presenter for the 911 Training Institute, a private firm that provides training and consulting services for 911 professionals. He also works as an Adjunct Instructor at the Regional Criminal Justice Training Center at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, CA.

Ryan is a California Peace Officer Standards & Training (POST) certified instructor, has his BA Degree in Sociology, and MA Degree in Forensic Psychology. He contributes to IAED’s Journal of Emergency Dispatch and 9-1-1 Magazine, as well as writes his own popular blog called “Operation 10-8”.

Ryan blends his education with his experience wearing the headset to share his personal story of survival and journey to healing from post-traumatic stress, inspiring emergency telecommunicators to optimize their overall health and well-being.

Jeff Dill

In 2011, Jeff Dill founded Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance (FBHA). This organization is a 501 (C) (3). Jeff travels the United States & Canada holding workshops to teach firefighters about behavioral health awareness and suicide prevention. FBHA is the only known organization that collects and validates data on FF and EMT suicides across the United States. In addition, FBHA holds classes for counselors/chaplains, family members and preparing for retirement.
Jeff Dill holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Argosy University (IL), a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a retired Captain at Palatine Rural Fire Protection District in Inverness, Illinois.

Edrick Dorian

Edrick H. Dorian, Psy.D., ABPP, is a police psychologist with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). He is board certified in both Clinical Psychology and Police & Public Safety Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology, and a diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. At the LAPD, he provides clinical and training services for sworn and civilian law enforcement personnel, responds to critical incidents, serves as a consultant on the SWAT Crisis Negotiation Team, and provides managerial consultation to commanding officers. He has held academic appointments on the adjunct faculties of California State University Northridge, Moorpark College, and the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University; and as Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He is co-editor of the book Police Psychology and Its Growing Impact on Modern Law Enforcement.

Robert E. Douglas, Jr.

Bob is the Executive Director and Founder of the National Police Suicide Foundation, Inc. out of Seaford, Delaware. The Foundation provides educational training seminars for emergency responders on the issue of suicide/mental health. Since 1995, over 35,000 emergency responders have been trained in the United States on suicide awareness. He is considered a leading expert in the area of police suicide according to Dateline, CNN, Time Magazine and USA Today. He is also the author of three books: Death With No Valor, Hope Beyond the Badge, and Healing For a Hero’s Heart.

In July 1994, Bob retired as an Agent after serving 20 years with the Baltimore City Police Department and 5 years as a Patrol Officer with the Temple Terrace Police Department in Temple Terrace, Florida. He holds a B.S. Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of South Florida and a Masters Degree in Police Administration from the University of Baltimore. Bob also has a Masters in Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary and a Doctorate Degree in Christian Counseling from Kingsway University and Theological Seminary in Norwalk, Iowa. Bob lectures at the FBI National Academy on Mental Health/Suicide Prevention for Law Enforcement personnel. He recently as the Senior Pastor at Jenkins Memorial Church in Riviera Beach, Maryland where he has served for 24 years. Bob also served as Police Chaplain for FOP Lodge #3 in Baltimore City from 1988 to 2002 and served as Chaplain for ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) in Washington, D.C. Bob is also the founder of Compassionate Shepherd Ministries in Laurel, Delaware.

John A. Ferrone, Esq.

John A. Ferrone is a partner of Adams, Ferrone & Ferrone and has been practicing law for 25 years. John specializes in the areas of workers’ compensation, ADR labor negotiations, employment litigation, and retirement.

John negotiated the first public safety ADR program for workers’ compensation for the City of Long Beach Police and Fire in 2008. Since that time, John has launched similar ADR programs in Huntington Beach, Orange County Fire Authority, Rialto, Glendale, Bakersfield, Porterville and Madera.

John is a guest lecturer for the Peace Officers’ Research Association of California, CCPOA, and several other public safety agencies. John also conducts training in the areas of workers’ compensation and has assisted safety organizations with drafting legislation.

Richard Goerling

Richard has served in civilian law enforcement for over twenty years. He’s held both federal and municipal level positions and has served as a criminal investigator, patrol officer, detective, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant, detective lieutenant, and currently serves as a patrol lieutenant in Hillsboro, Oregon. Over the last decade, Richard has spearheaded the introduction of mindfulness training into policing in the United States as part of a larger cultural transformation toward a compassionate, skillful and resilient warrior ethos. He is a thought leader in the arena of resiliency and performance in policing.

Richard has served as a member of the United States Coast Guard for 27 years, both active and reserve, and retired in 2015 at the rank of Commander while assigned to Coast Guard Sector Charleston, SC. His early active-duty tours include serving as a deck watch officer and law enforcement officer aboard a high endurance cutter, and as an instructor at the Coast Guard’s maritime law enforcement academy.

He serves as an affiliate assistant professor in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at Pacific University in Oregon and serves as a co-investigator in a current NIH funded study looking at mindfulness in policing. Richard is an integral part of the Pacific research team that has secured funding from the National Institutes of Health to research mindfulness in policing.

Richard also holds an adjunct faculty position at Portland Community College and Portland State University. He’s a consultant and trainer with the University of Texas at Dallas in a project to train mindfulness at Dallas Police Department.

Richard completed a year-long training program at the University of California at Los Angeles, Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) under the direction of Diana Winston, Dr. Susan Smalley, and Dr. Marvin Belzer. He is a Certified Mindfulness Facilitator through UCLA.
To fill an acute need for skills-based training, Richard developed an immersion training model for mindfulness. This training has been delivered in both Oregon and California with plans in 2017 for trainings in Texas, Massachusetts, and Canada.

Richard continues to train and speak about resiliency for first responders around the nation. He facilitates a social media presence at www.mindfulbadge.com and has a history of published academic and professional work. He is an avid swimmer and meditator, a reluctant runner, and a content introvert that enjoys time with his family to recharge.

Gordon Graham

Gordon Graham has taken his background as a street cop, supervisor and manager and coupled it with his formal education as a risk manager and his education and experiences as an attorney and is the Founder of Lexipol – a company designed to standardize policies, procedures and training within fire and police departments around America.

Tim Grutzius

As a 22-year veteran of the Alsip Fire Department (current rank of Lieutenant), Tim also served in the role of EMS Coordinator for 9 years. Tim has been an active member of the Illinois Firefighter Peer Support Team since 2014, as well as a leadership team member for PTSDCHAT.ORG since 2016.

In addition to his fire service career, Tim is employed by the Moraine Valley Health, Fitness, and Recreation Center as a certified personal trainer and health coach. He has earned an Associates in Fire Science from Moraine Valley Community College; a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago; and a Diploma in Holistic Health Practice and Certificate in Wellness Consulting both from the American College of Healthcare Sciences. Tim is also a certified Reiki practitioner.

Tim has been married to his best friend and wife Judy (a third-grade teacher) for 20 years- who has his undying gratitude for her years of support as a firefighter’s wife.

Trina Hall

Trina Hall, Ph.D. is a Police Psychologist for the Dallas Police Department. She obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (Psychology and Law specialty track) from the University of Alabama. She completed her pre-doctoral Internship training with the Bureau of Prisons Metropolitan Detention Center-Los Angeles. She has worked as a Staff Psychologist for the Federal Bureau of Prisons and an Assistant Professor and Director of the Counseling Psychology Program at the University of Houston-Victoria. She is the Clinical Coordinator for Dallas Police Department’s Peer Support Program and Suicide Prevention Advisory Committee. She provides clinical and training services to law enforcement personnel (sworn and civilian) and their families. She has published articles and conducted presentations regarding forensic assessment/evaluation issues, trauma, critical incidents, peer support, and resilience.

Denise Jablonski-Kaye

For three decades Dr. Denise Jablonski-Kaye has worked as a clinical psychologist to help people overcome their traumatic experiences and flourish in the face of adversity. After completing her doctoral degree in Clinical and Health Psychology she went on to work at Valley Hospital Medical Center in Van Nys, California providing services to patients dealing with significant health issues, such as a stroke, head trauma, amputation or neurologica diseases.

By 1987 she was the Director of Psychology Services at Valley Hospital and was Instrumental in developing an internship-training program for pre-doctoral candidates as well expanding the use of psychological services throughout the all hospital units. Medical teams started addressing the psychological needs of their patients in their treatment protocols.

After leaving Valley Hospital Dr. Jablonski-Kaye went on to work in Ventura County Behavioral Health as the Senior Psychologist providing assessment and intervention services to individuals with major mental health concerns.

In 2003 she joined the Los Angeles Police Department as a Police Psychologist in Behavioral Science Services division. Addressing suicide prevention, relationship issues, and building resiliency within the Department has been her mission. Appointed Assistant Commanding Officer of BSS in 2006 has allowed her to oversee the robust LAPD Peer Support Program, developing a Vet2Vet and OIS cadre to better address the needs of employees. She also presides over the Critical Incident Response Team providing defusing and debriefing services. While focusing on suicide prevention efforts she has developed Department-wide prevention campaigns, training programs, postvention protocols and fostered greater awareness of the breath and scope of this problem. Focusing on the root causes of suicide has led her to develop relationship-based programs helping officers and civilian employees better manage their personal relationships.

Dr. Jablonski‐Kaye is board certified in Police and Public Safety through the American Board of Professional Psychology. She is also a member of International Association of Chiefs of Police, American Psychological Association, and Society for Police and Criminal Psychology. She is contracted with Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms to train and debrief in their Enhanced Undercover Program. When not addressing the psychological needs of law enforcement personnel she enjoys spending time with her husband (retired from law enforcement), her two adult sons, her two cats, her garden and a variety of hobbies and interests, all of which build her resiliency and keep her fully charged.

Ellen Kirschman, Ph.D.

Ellen is a clinical psychologist and volunteer clinician at the First Responders Support Network. She is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, The Society for the Study of Police and Criminal Psychology, The American Psychological Association and the International Association of Women in Law Enforcement. She is the recipient of the California Psychological Association’s 2014 award for distinguished contribution to psychology as well as the American Psychological Association’s 2010 award for outstanding contribution to the practice of police and public safety psychology. She is the author of I Love a Cop: What Police Families Need to Know, I Love a Fire Fighter: What the Family Needs to Know, lead author of Counseling Cops: What Clinicians Need to Know, and three mysteries, Burying Ben, The Right Wrong Thing, and the forthcoming The Fifth Reflection all told from the perspective of police psychologist, Dot Meyerhoff.

Jeffery E. Oostyen, Psy.D.

Jeffery E. Oostyen, Psy.D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist (PSY26998). Dr. Oostyen earned his doctorate degree from Alliant International University/California School of Professional Psychology in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis on child, family and relationship therapy. Prior to working for TCTI Jeff gained experience working with law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical, and emergency dispatch agencies as an intern and later as an employee of Focus Psychological Services. He has been with FPS for over 11 years. FPS has been the psychological services provider to the San Diego Police Department since 1990. Dr. Oostyen also provides 24-hour Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) to contract and non-contract departments, is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and holds a certificate in Hostage Negotiation from the FBI. Jeff has extensive experience working with adolescents and individuals with Autism, has been a semi-annual guest speaker at Palomar College’s Emergency Medical Department and a program supervisor for the STAR program. Dr. Oostyen currently works for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation as a Correctional Psychologist where he is on the CDCR Peer Support Team. At CDCR Dr. Oostyen works closely with a caseload of psychiatric inmates, as well as, performing Mental Health Evaluations and taking on-call assignments for psychiatric emergencies. Working for TCTI, Dr. Oostyen provides marriage, family, child and individual therapy to governmental agencies, city personnel and their families, assists the training department as an instructor on various topics and responds to critical incidents. Dr. Oostyen serves clients for TCTI in the San Diego office.