Post Critical Incident Seminar

This message is being sent on behalf of The New York Law Enforcement Assistance Program (NYLEAP)

The New York Law Enforcement Assistance Program (NYLEAP/www.nyleap.org) in partnership with the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is proud to announce the delivery of the Post Critical Incident Seminar (PCIS) # 29. This FREE training is for all First Responders, Emergency Service Workers, and Military Veterans. This seminar is designed to assist First Responders that have been involved in on-duty critical incidents, suffer from cumulative career stress, or have been exposed to traumatic life events unrelated to their law enforcement career, and has had their life adversely affected as a result. This is a Peer-based program, where peers will be accompanied by culturally competent clinical staff to assist the attendees in finding healthy ways to cope with stress and manage PTSD. All Peers are either active or retired First Responders, or spouses of First Responders (Spouse Peers). PCIS’ are administered in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and California, amongst others—a total of fourteen (14) States—to help our Law Enforcement and First Responder communities understand and cope with the events that have adversely affected their lives. This seminar is not just for those individuals that have experienced major traumatic events, but also for all individuals; trauma across a career, trauma from personal life, etc. All First Responders, Emergency Service Workers, and Military Veterans are encouraged to register. This training will be October 20th - 22nd, 2025, in Rockland County, NY.  

Post Critical Incident Seminar (PCIS)

This workshop is for First Responders who have experienced a critical incident, or a culmination of traumatic events over their career. Despite helpful support immediately following a critical incident, there can be long lasting effects. Going through a critical incident has been described as crossing a fence with no opportunity to jump back. A critical incident can rupture an officer's basic worldview often leaving him/her with a sense of vulnerability that the uninitiated cannot understand. The job, the street, and one's weapon may be perceived differently following such an incident.

Patterned on a format that has been used by the FBI for over 25 years, the PCIS will provide education on trauma, patterns of resolution, and field-tested coping strategies that promote recovery and resilience. Peer support is an important element of the PCIS. Discussion of incidents with fellow officers who have "been there" promotes normalization and recovery.

What is a Critical Incident?

A Critical Incident is any event that results in an overwhelming sense of vulnerability and/or loss of control. A critical incident may be a line of duty shooting, being shot or seriously injured on the job, a high-speed pursuit that ends in tragedy, an event that brings prolonged and/or critical media attention, a personal tragedy, and a host of other events (to include off-duty and/or personal events and circumstances).

What are the benefits of attending?

An opportunity to:

• Improve Agency/Department response to Officers involved in critical incidents
• To include best practices for post-critical incident follow-up
• Share one's experience with one's peers
• Give and receive support
• Share in sessions with law enforcement/first responder related mental health professionals utilizing proven trauma recovery methods
• Learn coping strategies that will enable recovery from past critical incidents and strengthen one's ability to deal with future incidents.

Who should attend?

LEO’s/First Responders/Emergency Communications, etc., who have experienced a critical incident (or cumulative trauma over their career) and that are still experiencing some type of daily impairment or lesser quality of life related to the traumatic exposure they experienced. The incident could have been recent or more distant, but if some level of diminished functioning still exists in your daily/home/family life, this seminar can be of great benefit to you (and your family).

Due to logistics and design, this seminar has a maximum class size of 30 participants. Applicants should be those individuals who are seeking to learn new/additional coping skills, further their knowledge of PTSD and its affects, and are willing to be active participants in the large/small group and individual seminar exercises.

**Please note, pre-registration does not guarantee attendance**

Spouses/significant others are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to attend with their LEO/First Responder family member.  

This Seminar will include approximately 30 participants plus peer-team members. Peer-team consists of trained law enforcement officers, and culturally competent mental health professionals. 

Due to confidentiality and privacy protocols, only confirmed participants will receive the Seminar training address.

PCIS course pre-registration link:

Please note: Registrants must include a personal email address and phone number on their application. Generic agency contact info is not sufficient.

If you have any questions regarding the training, please contact NYLEAP Vice President, Dr. Matthew Carpenter by email at [email protected] or by phone at (518) 625-1899 ext. 102.