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CMPD staff psychologist helps officers cope with daily tensions of the job

CHARLTOTE, N.C. — The shooting of Keith Lamont Scott and the protests that followed raised new tensions between the Charlotte community and its Police Department.

The images are now seared into Charlotte's consciousness- officers on the front lines in September as protests spun out of control in the nights in uptown after the shooting of Scott.

What is tougher to see is how that very visible tension can impact an officer psychologically.

“It's OK if you've experienced some kind of trauma- whether it's been on a call for service or in your personal life- to talk to somebody,” said Lt. Christian Wagner, a 17-year veteran of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

That’s where Dr. David Englert comes in.

“The average officer sees things that most of us never have to see luckily,” said Englert, a retired Air Force psychologist.

Mecklenburg County hired Englert nine months ago to be a staff psychologist for the police Department – one of very few in the country.

His goal is to help them cope with the daily tensions of the job.

His presence was especially valuable in the aftermath of the Scott shooting.

Englert said many officers are reluctant to ask for help but the first step is earning their trust.

“Some came to trust me right away. I think some folks are more distrustful than others, but I'll wear them all down eventually, right?” he said.

And for those he doesn't convince, Englert oversees a team of about 20 officers trained as peer counselors they can talk to.

Wagner said they’re gradually making progress.

“People are talking about it in the agency and I think it's helping out,” he said.


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