Palos Park Police Will Receive Peer Support Mental Health Training

PALOS PARK, IL -- Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk has announced that the Palos Park Police Department will participate in an intensive two-day training program, hosted by Operation Shattered Stars.

Operation Shattered Stars is a non-profit organization that works together with law enforcement agencies and those in the mental health profession, with the goal to train officers to help provide and cultivate peer support for fellow officers that may be struggling with personal issues.

The Operation Shattered Stars program is an outlet and avenue for officers to seek help from qualified mental health professionals. All Palos Park officers will be attending mental health awareness training in the future, teamed up with other local agencies to help officers work with those they encounter who suffer from mental health issues.

"These proud men and women serve our local communities day and night, and can see some of the most unimaginable things in their career,” Palos Park Police Chief Joe Miller said in a news release. “Inevitably, this can cause issues with an officer and their stress levels, as well as those of their families. The Operation Shattered Stars program is structured to put in place a resource for officers so they know that they are never alone and help is a phone call away.".

Officer Matt Novak will represent Palos Park as an ambassador for the Operation Shattered Stars program.