LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Las Vegas has it all, and our Las Vegas Metropolitan Officers have seen it all.
“I’ve seen everything from drowned kids, to husband take his last breath after getting shot by his wife, to countless fatal accidents,” Traffic Officer Michael Lemley said.
After every call, there is usually another one that awaits.
Victoria: So there was no time to take in what you just saw?
Officer Lemley: There was no decompression no dealing with the facts, you just carried on.
According to Officer Lemley would carry on his duties while also carrying the weight of bottled up emotions.
The traffic officer has been with the department for 27 years.
“When I started and you talked about this stuff and you were looked on as a bad officer,’ Office Lemley said.
Officer Lemley did eventually seek help with the Wellness Bureau.
“The help for me came way too late,” he said. “When I was going through it there was one way out and luckily it didn’t happen.”
Victoria: Was it easy to have those conversations that have been bottled in?
Officer Lemley: No it wasn’t easy to feel your emotions because you pressed them down so long.
The Wellness Bureau has five clinicians, a support dog named Jimmy, massage chairs and a physical rehab center called ProTeam tactical.
“They got me the resources I needed and got to a place where i can work through all the trauma i was going through,” Officer Lemley said.
Chief James Kilber tells FOX5 this Wellness Bureau was a huge priority for Sheriff Kevin McMahill.
“I think that the society has forgotten about our first responders they are the hero’s of this community they have come forward to sacrifice their lives for us and we have kind of brushed them aside and I am very thankful we are stepping up with Sheriff McMahill and Dr. James Tenny our director to get this program going,” Chief Kilber said.
Victoria: What do you tell your officers who come to you and say they need help?
Chief Kilber: First off it is OK to not be OK sometimes it is OK to step forward.
Officers have been stepping forward, the Wellness Bureau receives 415 appointments a month.
“The need is there and it showed us it should have started 20-30 years ago,” Chief Kilber said.
Chief Kilber said between 2022-2023, four LVMPD officers died by suicide.
“In 2024 we had no suicides, so this program is working it is paying off it is drastically needed,” Chief Kilber said.
FOX5 spoke with Dr. James Tenney who is the bureau’s director and one of seven clinicians.
“The reset is now they have that much more of a clear head to address the challenges they face day to day,” Dr. Tenney said.
As for Officer Lemley, a clearer head has made a huge difference for himself and his peers.
“Me being able to talk about it lets the younger officers know its OK,” he said.
The Wellness Bureau not only sees current officers, but their families and retired officers.
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