Fort Atkinson Police Officer Vanessa Leonard and her spouse Johnson Creek Police Officer Jay Leonard have been named Crisis Intervention Officers of the Year, according to information released by city of Fort Atkinson officials.
The two officers were recognition by the Jefferson County Human Services Department during a banquet held by the Jefferson County Chief’s and Sheriff’s Association Wednesday.
According to the release, both officers were nominated for the recognition by the Fort Atkinson Police Department in honor of their role in establishing the Jefferson County Support Team, a peer-to-peer support network formed to assist officers and their families during times of personal and professional crises.
“The primary objective of the team is not to conduct investigations, but rather to provide encouragement, education, and normalization of life and career stressors. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Vanessa and Jay, the team now comprises members from every law enforcement agency in the county,” the release stated.
The mission of the Jefferson County Police Officer Support Team, or POST, as stated in the release, is, “to be a confidential resource to emergency service employees and their family members who are experiencing overwhelming personal and occupational stressors.”
As stated in the release, “Vanessa takes the selection of team members seriously, implementing stringent criteria and training procedures to ensure their qualifications. She has invested countless hours in developing literature, attending training sessions at her own expense, and spearheading the team’s establishment. All of this has been done without any monetary reward, solely with the aim of fortifying the thin blue line.”
The support team offers a range of free services to law enforcement departments, including defusing and debriefing sessions, the release read.
In addition, the team promptly assembles and responds after critical incidents, providing responders with an opportunity to process the emotional aspects of high-stress situations.
Describing the officers, members of the Fort Atkinson Police Department Command Staff wrote, as stated in the release, that Vanessa and Jay had “single-handedly initiated a movement of support for first responders throughout Jefferson County. They have created a sense of community where none existed before.”
Quoted within the release, Fort Atkinson Police Chief Adrian Bump said: “The resources provided by POST enable our department to send officers into the community with clearer minds and better physical health. Thanks to Vanessa and Jay’s selfless efforts, our first responders now have access to support that would otherwise be unavailable. The positive impact of their endeavors extends not only to our departments and responders, but also to our communities. Most importantly, it benefits our brothers, sisters, and their families.”
Further, the release noted, over the course of the last seven years, a member of the Fort Atkinson Police Department has been named Crisis Intervention Officer of the Year four times.
Fort Atkinson Police Lt. Ben Lindsey; Fort Atkinson Police Chief Adrian Bump; Fort Atkinson Police Officer Vanessa Leonard and Johnson Creek Police Officer Jay Leonard, both recipients of the Crisis Intervention Officer of the Year award; Fort Atkinson Police Lt. Dan Hefty and Fort Atkinson Police Lt. Kevin Miller, gather during an award presentation ceremony held Wednesday by the Jefferson County Chief’s and Sheriff’s Association. Contributed photo.
Fort Atkinson Police Officer Vanessa Leonard and Johnson Creek Police Officer Jay Leonard receive the Crisis Intervention Officers of the Year award from Jefferson County Human Services Department. The officers were presented with the award during the Jefferson County Chief’s and Sheriff’s Association annual banquet held Wednesday. Contributed photo.
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