First responder liaison issues self-care reminders at LCSO banquet
For 36 years, Steven Click served with the Ohio State Highway Patrol in a variety of duties, including as the commander of Cadet Training, with the Motorcycle Unit, the Ohio Statehouse detail and several supervisory positions.
While dedicating himself to ensuring the safety of the public, he also made it a top priority throughout his career to look out for his fellow officers in the law enforcement field. He completed Critical Incident Stress Management certification in 1993, and was deployed to New York City twice following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, working alongside the New York Police Department peer support program, POPPA.
Now retired from the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Click is the first responder liaison for the Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services, and he spoke Saturday evening during the Logan County Sheriff’s Office annual recognition banquet.
He told the deputies, corrections officers, dispatchers, other agency employees and their families gathered at the Winner Harvest, that he is charged with looking out for 100,000 first responders in the state. With that in mind, he stressed the importance of self-care, a crucial component in this line of duty.
“You don’t get to have an ‘off day’ when you’re on the job and you can’t go into work unprepared. That means that you need to take care of yourselves so that you can take care of the community.”
The Grove City resident stated there are two ways that first responders can be “taken out” – by a bear or by a duck.
“When you’re taken out by a bear, that could be a gruesome crime scene or a mass casualty event – it’s an event that’s loud and takes everyone by force.
“The other thing that takes us out are ducks. They aren’t particularly exciting events, but it’s something that happens over time. After 20 to 30 years of experiencing ducks, they add up.”
To address the stresses that law enforcement handle, whether in a one-day traumatic incident or over a period of years, Click said his office offers crisis awareness training and post-critical incident seminars throughout the state.
He related suicide prevention training is an important part of the sessions, stating that “last year, there were seven law enforcements in the state that we know about, and there were seven fire and EMS suicides that we know about. Statistics show us that there are even more suicides that we don’t know about.”
Taking the time out for an awards ceremony each year is an excellent way to pause for a little self-care and to thank staff members.
“By talking with your sheriff, I can tell how much he appreciates all of your efforts,” Click said.
Sheriff Randall J. Dodds had employees from each of the sheriff’s office departments, from kitchen staff to corrections officers, administrative staff, mental health counselors, medical staff, county dog warden, courthouse security, detectives, patrol deputies and others, stand to be recognized.
“It takes all of these pieces to keep the wheels turning,” he said. “You’re only as good as the people you have working for you, and I’m very blessed.”
During 2019, the sheriff related that his office fielded 125,000 calls, deputies were dispatched to 33,000 calls and handled 559 crashes and 1,300 criminal complaints. Approximately 100,000 meals were prepared in the kitchens of the Logan County Jail and Logan County Juvenile Center.
Administrative Assistant Trina Kopus said 54 nominations were submitted for awards for the evening, and the following individuals received agency honors:
Corrections Officer Erik Weeks received a Lifesaving Award for a November incident, where on his watch tour, he observed a jail inmate who was attempting to hang himself. He was able to intervene and save the inmate’s life.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Officer Adam Smith also received a Lifesaving Award for his actions involved in a previously reported November crash on Township Road 230. The teenage driver involved in the crash suffered the amputation of her arm, and Officer Smith responded since he was in close proximity to the crash. In quick thinking, he applied a turnequtte to her arm, which ultimately was credited with saving her life since she lost so much blood in the collision.
The final Lifesaving Awards were presented to Deputies Kris Koehler and Drew Dixon, who helped to save the life of an unresponsive man suffering from an apparent overdose with their administration of Narcan.
Meritorious Service Awards were presented to Dispatcher Kaylin Frederick related to a providing accurate information in a high-stress situation when a deputy’s cruiser was struck in May; Corrections Officers Billy Simpkins and Seth Barhorst and Deputy Guy Knight for their efforts during June to assist alongside inmates with the emergency room flood clean-up at Mary Rutan Hospital; Detective Phil Bailey for the submission of DNA in 2019 for a 1992 rape case; and Sgt. Tom Watson for his work to investigate a multi-county theft ring that started in 2017.
Finally, Certificates of Recognition were presented to Deputies Koehler, Dixon and Nick Burtchin; Sgt. Watson and Sgt. Tom Meek; Detectives Brent Joseph, Joe Layman, Mike Brugler and Doug Mitchell; and Rick Gildow, president of the Behind the Badge Citizen’s Sheriff Academy Alumni.