Ep. 39: Dir. Vernon Herron on Leading Healthy Change

Dir. Vernon Herron on Leading Healthy Change in Public Safety, speaking with Fleet Maull.

35-year law enforcement veteran with the Maryland State Police, Homeland Security and now the Baltimore Police Department, Director Vernon Herron discusses his work as Director of the Baltimore PD's Office of Officer Safety and Wellness and Office of Early Intervention, promoting both physical and mental health, through training, seminars and health publications. How health and wellness training is just as important or even more foundational to good law enforcement than the various forms of tactical training that are part of the job. The importance of increasing mental health awareness and suicidality risk awareness in law enforcement and removing the stigmas associated with mental health issues and seeking support for traumatic stress injuries and challenges. The neurobiology of primary and secondary trauma exposure, the need to do the work to heal from accumulated trauma and/or PTSD and the Baltimore Police Department's commitment to officer safety and wellness and to improving police-community relations.

DIRECTOR VERNON HERRON Director Vernon Herron has more than 35 years of experience in public safety and law enforcement. He currently serves as Director, Baltimore City Police Department, where he manages the Office of” Officer Safety and Wellness” and the Office of “Early Intervention”. The Office of Officer Safety and Wellness, promotes both physical and mental health through training, seminars, and health publications. Additionally, this office facilitates police officers with immediate access to a mental health clinician as soon as officers have been involved in a traumatic event, such as” Police Officer Involved Shootings.” Director Herron developed a unique intervention system that focuses on the health and wellness of the officer and not discipline The "New Approach to Early Intervention" was published in the IACP Police Chief's magazine.
Prior to joining the Baltimore City Police Department, he served as the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Public Safety and Director of Homeland Security in Prince George’s County, Maryland. As the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Herron had oversight of the Prince George’s County Police Department, Fire Department, Department of Corrections, Homeland Security and the Office of Emergency Management.
Mr. Herron served more than 27 years in the Maryland State Police. He joined the Department in 1977 and progressed from Trooper to Major. During his career, he worked in Field Operations, Drug Enforcement, Criminal Investigations and Human Resources. As Commander in the Maryland State Police, Mr. Herron led the Violent Crime Strike Force. This contingent of more than 50 Troopers targeted high-crime areas within the State of Maryland and assisted local law enforcement in reducing crime throughout the State. Mr. Herron received the highest honor bestowed upon a Maryland State Trooper, “The Governor’s Citation of Valor,” when he prevented an armed suspect from shooting several people and other police officers at a crowded restaurant.
Throughout his career, he has lectured across the United States on officer safety, wellness, and public safety. He holds a Master of Science in Management from Johns Hopkins University. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland, University College. Mr. Herron is a Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy graduate, Session 187.

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