Ferguson Police Provide Peer Trauma Support through Badge to Badge of Centre County

Badge to Badge of Centre County is a peer to peer support program started by Ferguson Township detectives Brian Wakefield and Caleb Clouse. Having previously served over 25 years as a criminal investigator with the Pennsylvania State Police, Detective Wakefield dealt firsthand with difficult cases, such as child deaths and the homicide of a trooper. Detective Clouse was also heavily impacted from similar traumatic experiences.

After opening up to each other, Wakefield and Clouse realized the heavy burden law enforcement officers carry and the importance of connecting with others who share similar experiences. They saw a need for resources that would help law enforcement officers cope with difficult situations in a safe, confidential environment, which led to the creation of Badge to Badge of Centre County.

This network of law enforcement departments connects dedicated officers from a range of backgrounds and ranks, who are available at any time through a phone hotline to assist other officers in need of someone who can listen, empathize, and advise. The hotline number is only given out to county law enforcement and instantly connects those in crisis with a fellow officer from the departments of Ferguson, Patton, Spring, State College, Bellefonte, and the Centre County Sheriff’s Office.

Leadership of the Badge to Badge program is comprised of Detective Wakefield as the team leader and Patton Township Officer Brian Shaffer serving as Assistant Team Leader. It took about three years for this peer to peer program to get up and running, as team leaders were first required to take part in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) training. The next step was to hold peer support training. For this, they called upon Tanya Schmell, a retired sergeant from West Des Moines Police Department and current Director of Peer Support Programs for Crisis Systems Management, who led initial peer support training virtually to eight representatives of local law enforcement departments during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to expand the program’s reach, Ferguson Township Police Department continues to host yearly peer support trainings for Badge to Badge of Centre County. Most recently, trainees met for a week-long in-person program held at the Ferguson Township Municipal Building in December 2022. Attendees included law enforcement departments from around Pennsylvania, two from Maryland, and two others joining the local team.

Trainees take the skills they acquire back to their respective departments to implement their own peer support network or to expand an existing one. Through breakout sessions, officers practice listing and speaking in crisis situations. They learn to listen, assess, and then refer to a counselor if needed. They also learn what trusted resources are available as referrals for officers who are in need of further help.

The Badge to Badge team receives additional training throughout the year and is eager to expand their network to make self-care for officers dealing with past trauma accessible, normalized, and effective.

For any questions about the Badge to Badge peer support program, contact Detective Brian Wakefield at bwakefield@twp.ferguson.pa.us.