International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.
By: Sergeant Brian Morgan, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
The call that no law enforcement officer wants to get. The news coverage and social media posts no law enforcement officer wants to see. The feelings no law enforcement officer wants to feel.
On January 11, 2021, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Corporal Brian LaVigne was killed in the line of duty by a fleeing suspect. The situation all law enforcement officers are warned about, but never want to truly believe could ever happen.
As a member of HCSO’s Peer Support Team and Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team, my initial shock of learning about the tragedy had to be traversed quickly, as others in my work family were hurting and in need. That night, I responded to the hospital where Corporal LaVigne’s tour of duty stopped. I met with his family there, and then traveled to several other family members’ homes to relay the devastating message.
The HCSO command staff recognized how deep this hurt would be felt within the agency and leaned on Peer Support and CISM to help the healing process. A CISM debrief for those involved was scheduled promptly.
As a somewhat newly organized CISM Team, there could not have been a more critical situation to have as the initial debrief for the team. Not that any CISM activation is light, but a line of duty death is the only circumstance requiring specific procedures due to the significance of the event at issue. However, filling a team with professional, empathetic, compassionate, trustworthy listeners and communicators can help ease concerns associated with a successful debrief. We are called on to help, so that is what we will do.
The CISM Team members, chaplain, and mental health professional met an hour prior to the scheduled debrief. We arranged the room, discussed the general plan and procedures, and had the chaplain pray for all those who would be in attendance. Soon, the participants arrived, along with the Sheriff, Chief Deputy, and the Major and Captain of the district Corporal LaVigne worked in. The command staff members thanked the participants for being there and starting the healing process. They also made it clear they would not be staying and would not be inquiring about the happenings of what was to come. They left the room, closed the door, and allowed the CISM process to take place.
Each person in that circle had their own thoughts, their own feelings, their own perspective, and their own grief. I continued to question the CISM Team’s reach even during the debrief. Should all of these people be here? Should we have invited others? Are there people that need this that never got the opportunity to come?
Several hours passed. The tenseness of the room at the introduction phase weakened throughout. At times, voices were elevated, hatred was expressed, guilt was claimed, tears were shed, and heads were hung. But stories of the past mentioned throughout also brought on some smiles, laughter, and a sense happiness. In all of the chaos involved with a line of duty death, the group was allotted a safe environment to grieve, to remember, to unite. The meeting closed with a prayer and a lot of hugs.
Over the next several weeks, I received multiple calls and texts saying, “thank you.” The CISM Team continued informal contact with each individual who attended, just to make sure they were all as ok as ok could be after dealing with what had happened. I also received calls from several people needing exactly what had happened: a chance to begin healing with others who also needed healing.
Our agency, our family, suffered a great loss this year. Unfortunately, everyone in this profession may have to deal with a similar loss. It is our reality. Corporal LaVigne will never be forgotten, but we must move on and continue the mission he once put on the badge to perform. I am grateful for the administration of the HCSO and their support for Peer Support, CISM, and the wellbeing of their employees. In looking back at lessons learned from the experience, the CISM Team has discovered several things:
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