Understanding police mental health following traumatic incidents

A thin blue line flag is draped over a sheriff's vehicle
A vigil featuring fallen Pope County Deputy Josh Owen’s squad car sits outside the Pope County Courthouse in Glenwood, Minn. on April 17, 2023.
Tim Evans for MPR News

There’s a growing memorial of flowers and flags outside the Pope County Sheriff’s office in honor of Deputy Sheriff Josh Owen who was shot during a domestic dispute call on Saturday.

On Monday a procession of dozens of law enforcement vehicles escorted Owen's body back to his hometown of Glenwood. Two other law enforcement officers from Pope County and Starbuck were also injured. This tragedy has a ripple effect, both for those who knew and served with Owen, and for those who serve in the same profession.

To understand how the mental health of officers is impacted by incidents like these, MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Shawn Willliams. Williams is an Associate Dean of Educational Services in Police Training and Education at Alexandria Technical and Community College, the alma mater of Deputy Owen.

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