ROGERS COUNTY, Okla. — The Rogers County Sheriff’s Office is working to address growing mental health challenges among its deputies by launching a new support group that includes deputies’ families.
Captain Coy Jenkins said in recent years, the industry has seen deputies struggle with emotional and mental health issues, often without their families realizing it.
“The last couple of years, we would have a deputy that might be struggling with an emotional or mental issue,” said Jenkins. “In trying to address that situation, we found out that a lot of times the family didn’t realize that they had something going on with their loved one.”
Jenkins and his wife are leading an effort to build a stronger support system that extends beyond the workplace and into deputies’ homes.
“We’re trying to teach our officers to be able to share a lot of their emotional stress with their families, as well as the peer group.”
The program encourages open communication and helps families better understand the realities of law enforcement work.
Jenkins said some deputies avoid discussing their experiences at home, even though that can add to their emotional burden.
“I talked to an officer today and he told me ‘I don’t discuss what happens at work with my family.’ We need to because we carry that burden.”
As part of the initiative, families are invited to participate in activities and learn firsthand about the job, including planned visits to the firearms range and other hands-on experiences.
The support group also serves as a space for spouses and family members to share experiences, offer advice and better understand the day-to-day challenges deputies face.
Jenkins said the program is one of the most meaningful efforts of his career.
“For me to be able to provide this support is probably one of the most incredible things that I’ve done in my entire career. I know that I’m making a difference in the community, but this is something that I’m making a difference in my brother officers and my sister officers.”
The sheriff’s office held its first family support group meeting last month for law enforcement and support staff.
Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton said recognizing and addressing mental health concerns is critical.
“We need to be able to not just see, but identify and act on situations. At least offer and find out who’s close to that person that can have a hard conversation with them and get them help.”
Officials said the demands of law enforcement can be stressful, dangerous and far reaching, impacting not only deputies but also their spouses and children.
Jenkins said, “We all have emotional scars that we carry that nobody knows. It’s very important that when they have those emotional scars, their family can relate to them and help them endure those as they go through their career.”