KENOSHA, Wis. — Law enforcement officers often face traumatic situations on the job, and leaders in Kenosha County say it’s critical to support their mental health.
The Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new officer wellness program aimed at helping deputies and staff access mental health support. The initiative is funded as part of the county’s 2026 budget.
What You Need To Know
A Kenosha County program focuses on mental health for law enforcement
It’s made possible through the county budget
The program provides an annual mental health check for every staff member
Officers also get access to on-site peer support, stress management training, and debriefs after critical incidents to help process what they’ve been through
Kenosha County Sheriff David Zoerner said the program represents a significant change from when he first started in law enforcement.
“This was the funeral for my friend Frank Fabiano,” Zoerner said as he pointed to a photo. “My best friend was murdered while on duty.”
At the time, Zoerner was working third shift as a deputy.
“We didn’t have a program like this,” Zoerner said. “It was more like, ‘You’re doing great,’ or ‘You’ll be alright, just take a breath.’”
The new officer wellness program makes it possible for all Kenosha County’s sworn law enforcement to get regular counseling with a clinical social worker. They also get access to on-site peer support, stress management training, and debriefs after critical incidents to help process what they’ve been through.
Zoerner said that the program is also open to the county’s correctional staff.
“Jails and prisons in the United States have become the number one mental health provider in our communities. All those people who work around those individuals suffer, and we wanted to make sure we had the most current and up-to-date program to help them,” he said.
Kenosha County Sgt. Terry Tifft acknowledged how important it is to be aware of mental health challenges. He was involved in an officer-involved shooting five years ago and remembers the emotional toll it took.
“During that incident, there really wasn’t much mental health support,” Tifft said. “The stress, not knowing how it was going to play out in court, the lack of sleep, and the toll it took on my family.”
He said he hopes the new wellness program helps end the stigma surrounding depression and anxiety and inspires more members of law enforcement to talk about the challenges of the job.
“So you can be more productive at work,” said Tifft. “Well rested, doing things that are healthy rather than turning to alcohol or drugs. It’s not normal to see people that are hurt, people involved in abuse, dead bodies. It’s okay to ask for help. We are all strong individuals, but the human mind can only take so much.”
Zoerner stressed that the goal is to make sure every deputy and staff member knows they are not alone.
“Ending the stigma with mental health is so important; it’s something we work at very hard,” said Zoerner.