Comments from past Virginia Post Critical
Incident Seminar participants
“At first I dreaded coming to the PCIS. I
didn’t want to relive or dwell on the incidents
that I was involved in. The first day was tough
telling my story. The second day during my
EMDR session, I learned that my attitudes,
the negative changes I had made in my life,
were a direct result of those incidents. When
this was realized during the EMDR, I
immediately felt myself feeling better than I
had in three years. It felt like a very heavy
weight had been taken off of me, and that I
could enjoy life again. I realized
the good things such as my family that I
unintentionally neglected for a long time.”
---“I came not knowing what I was getting into.
I am glad I came. I told my story, met new
people, and realized I’m not alone. I wasn’t
too sure about EMDR but after doing it, I
wish I would have done it a long time ago.”
---“Remove the pretense that nothing will help,
that you don’t belong here, your story can’t
compare. It’s great to be with a group of
individuals who have been in your shoes and
understand what you mean, that know how
you felt.”
---“This course allowed me to explore myself
during a negative time of my life. I have been
humbled by the transformation that took
place within me. It has allowed me to focus
on being alive and honoring my support
system. It was truly been the most beneficial
law enforcement training I have
experienced.”
---“We are taught to take care of our uniforms,
vehicle, equipment, etc. It’s about time we
learn to take care of ourselves and each
other.”
---“ I sat and talked with Chief Legg for over an
hour the first night, helping me overcome my
problems. It’s one of the greatest training
classes I have ever attended. Instead of
instructors and peers being in their own area,
they ate with us, roomed with us, and spent
after hours with us… Thanks to all the staff.”
PCIS Team Members Available for Questions
Lt. Kit Cummings
PCIS Blacksburg Police Dept.
Ph. 540-961-1165 [email protected]
Lt. Jeff Baker
Virginia State Police.
Ph. 804-674-2074 [email protected]
Chief Libby Legg
Ferrum College Police Dept.
Ph. 540-798-3994
Seventh Virginia
Post Critical Incident
Seminar
A Three-Day Training Seminar for
Law Enforcement Professionals
November 11-13, 2013
Sponsored and Hosted By
[email protected]
Registration and Lodging for PCIS:
*Virginia PCIS is designed as an inclusive,
residential
experience, and includes
three nights lodging
and all meals during the conference.
*Virginia-certified Law Enforcement
participants will
receive DCJS credit for their attendance.
Please complete a Virginia PCIS registration
form and submit it to:
Virginia Law Enforcement Assistance Program
Attn: Chief Libby Legg
10021 Franklin Street
Ferrum, Va. 24088 FAX 540 365 4256
Email to: [email protected]
Questions?
Call or email
Kit Cummings
Blacksburg Police Department
Phone: (540) 961-1165
Fax: (540) 552-8456
[email protected]
Libby Legg
540 798 3994 [email protected]
Rev. Alex Evans 540 392 2083
[email protected]
Over 20 years ago, the FBI developed a highly
effective program for post-incident training
in critical incident stress. Post Critical
Incident Seminar has literally meant the
difference between staying on the job and
leaving law enforcement due to unresolved
effects of critical incident stress. Law
enforcement professionals attending Post
Critical Incident Seminar will have an
unparalleled opportunity to share their
experiences with peers and to offer and
receive valuable support. Participants find
that discussing their experiences with fellow
officers who have experienced similar
distress facilitates normalization and
recovery. Attendees will also have access to
mental health professionals who work closely
with law enforcement and understand the
challenges of the profession. Post Critical
Incident Seminar will provide education on
trauma, identify effective patterns of
resolution and offer proven coping strategies
to promote recovery and resilience. Post
Critical Incident Seminar is offered to law
enforcement professionals, 911
telecommunicators, and their spouses or
significant others.
In 2009, the first Virginia Law Enforcement
Post Critical Incident Seminar was developed
carefully around a proven model utilized for
more than a dozen years in South Carolina.
Since that first session in the summer of
2009 Virginia PCIS has expanded to include
Critical Incident Stress
Management training, and VALEAP
continually endeavors to expand law
enforcement support offerings.
For a fuller understanding of what is offered
in a
Post Critical Incident Seminar, we would
encourage prospective attendees to watch a
video produced by the South Carolina Law
Enforcement
Assistance Program (SCLEAP). The video
may be viewed by following the link below:
http://www.scdps.org/Video/PCIS.wmv
VALEAP gratefully acknowledges SCLEAP for
the opportunity to utilize this outstanding
instructional video.
The Virginia Post Critical
Incident Seminar VII will be held at
Massanetta Springs Conference Center in
Harrisonburg, VA. The pastoral setting of
this retreat center provides an ideal
atmosphere for healing and interaction.
In 2008 a dedicated group of Virginia law
enforcement professionals began discussions
around the idea of bringing the proven
concept of Post Critical Incident Seminar to
Virginia. They had been
inspired to do so after attending Post Critical
Incident Seminar in South Carolina. The first
Virginia PCIS was held in 2009, and by all
accounts was a resounding success. In 2010
this founding
group endeavored to create the Virginia Law
Enforcement Assistance Program (VALEAP),
a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
To date, we’ve shared PCIS with dozens of
Virginia law enforcement professionals and
those close to them. Agencies represented
thus far have included:
Blacksburg Police Department
Chesterfield Co. Police Department
Chatham Co. S.O. (NC)
Chesterfield Co. P D
Christiansburg PD
Conn. State Police
Fairfax County P D
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Fredericksburg PD
Grayson County S.O.
Montgomery County Sheriffs’ Office
Norfolk PD
Orange County Sheriffs’ Office
Pulaski County Sheriffs’ Office
Richmond PD
Roanoke P D
Roanoke Sheriffs’ Office
Roanoke County PD
Saltville PD
Shenandoah Co. S.O.
Woodstock P D
Va. Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries
Virginia Probation and Parole
Virginia State Police
Virginia Tech PD
We look forward to meeting many more law
enforcement professionals and introducing
them to PCIS. If you or any members of your
agency have attended a PCIS, we ask that you
share your experiences with others. The most
effective advertising for Critical Incident
Stress Management and the Post Critical
Incident Seminar comes from word of mouth.