Bureaus > Employee Assistance Program > PEAP Staff

SGT. TOM HARMON
Director
LVMPD Police Employees Assistance Program

Tom has been employed as a police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (L.V.M.P.D.) since 1985. He has held assignments in the Patrol Division and in the training of new officers in the Field Training Program. Tom also worked for two years as an original member of the LVMPD Bicycle Patrol Team which patrolled the Las Vegas Strip.

In March of 1992 Tom was promoted to the rank of Sergeant where he continued in the training and instructing of new officers.

Because of Tom's personal life experiences, along with his experiences as an officer, he was drawn to the LVMPD Police Employees Assistance Program (P.E.A.P.) where he has worked as a peer counselor since February of 1994. In September of 1999 Tom was appointed Director of the P.E.A.P. program.

Tom has facilitated more than ninety critical incident debriefings to date for events such as police officer-involved shootings, suicides, fatal vehicle accidents, and deaths or serious injury to police officers.

Tom is a P.O.S.T. certified instructor and is currently instructing in the LVMPD Academy as well as the In-Service Training Section. He has completed more than 150 hours of Death & Grief Studies as well as several classes and seminars on the topics of Stress Management, Critical Incident Stress Debriefing, Substance Abuse/Intervention, and Communication Skills/Conflict Management.

Tom has instructed courses on Critical Incident Stress, Understanding Death & Grief Issues, Post-Traumatic Stress, Communication Skills, Stress Management, Family Orientation to Police Life, and the Psychology of Retirement.

Tom is a Master Graduate of the Rapport Leadership Institute. He has been married since 1983 and has two children.

MELISSA CAUSEY
Lead Peer Counselor / Coordinator
LVMPD Police Employees Assistance Program

Melissa has been employed with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department since 1996 and is currently working in the P.E.A.P. Unit as a Peer Counselor. Melissa is honored to be the first civilian in the P.E.A.P. program. In the past, Melissa has worked in the Youth Diversion Program as a youth counselor and as a Crime Prevention Specialist for the Downtown Area Command.

In the P.E.A.P. program, Melissa works with commissioned and civilian employees on a variety of issues. Some of these are grief, job performance and family issues as well as chemical dependency, serious injury, and officer involved shootings.

In August of 2007 Melissa was promoted to LEAD Coordinator - Peer Counselor and, along with her regular duties, is responsible for the daily administration of the LVMPD Volunteer Police Chaplain Program.

Prior to L.V.M.P.D., Melissa worked at psychiatric hospitals as a Director of Adjunctive Therapy. She also was a member on the Crisis Response Team. Melissa has extensive training in the field of depression, suicide, P.T.S.D. and abuse issues.

Melissa is a certified instructor. She teaches a wide range of topics which include Stress Management, Communications, Bereavement/Grief Issues, Post-shooting Trauma and "When Tragedy Strikes".

Melissa has a Bachelors Degree from U.N.L.V. in Adjunctive Therapy and a Masters Degree from U.O.P in Business Administration. She also has her Certification in Death and Grief Studies from the "Center for Loss" in Ft. Collins CO.

OFFICER LUIS TELLEZ
Peer Counselor / Coordinator
LVMPD Police Employees Assistance Program

Luis has been employed as a Corrections Officer with LVMPD since 1998. He has held numerous assignments at CCDC North Tower, South Tower and Stewart Center facilities. He has translated various policies and procedures from English to Spanish including the CCDC Inmate Handbook. Luis brings 15 years of corrections experience as a Prison Administrator from the state of New Mexico.

In 2000 Luis became a recruiter for the department assigned to the Personnel Bureau, where he worked for 3 ½ years. In 2001, Luis became the Chairperson for the newly created Sheriffs Hispanic Recruitment Council. Working with community leaders and employees, the council has been successful in the recruitment of Hispanics into the different careers that LVMPD offers.

Luis was a Church Elder for 8 years where one of his duties was Director of Couples Ministries. He conducted marriage counseling for such issues as divorce, spouse abuse, alcoholism, drug abuse, family matters and death.

Because of his passion to help those in need, Luis was drawn to the LVMPD Police Employees Assistance Program. Luis brings his professional and personal experiences as a peer counselor and is looking forward to helping his Metro family. Recognizing and experiencing the hardships that a career in law enforcement brings, he knows the importance of helping those in critical situations.

Luis recently attended training in San Diego, California given by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation on Group Crisis Intervention, Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer Support. He also attended training in Fort Collins, Colorado given by the Center for Loss and Life Transition on Comprehensive Bereavement Skills Training and Counseling Skills Fundamentals. Luis looks forward to fulfilling his responsibilities as a Peer Counselor.

Luis will be celebrating his 26th wedding anniversary in 2006 and has two sons.

DETECTIVE MARK ANDRES
Peer Counselor/ Coordinator
LVMPD Police Employee Assistance Program

Mark started his police career in 1992 with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department. He spent 9 ½ years with KCPD where he worked in Patrol, Field Training, SWAT, and Air Support where he became a Commercial Rated Helicopter Pilot. In 2002 Mark joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department where he has held various patrol assignments. Along with the growth of METRO so do the needs of our department, and in January 2005, a fifth position was approved and Mark came aboard as the newest member of P.E.A.P.

Because of Mark's vast background, and law enforcement experience he was very excited about the opportunity that presented itself in helping those within the METRO family. If asked he will tell you "This is the hardest job that I have ever had within my career as a police officer, but the most gratifying. It gives me a great sense of pride knowing that I can help members of our family."

Mark is currently completing his Certificate of Death and Grief Studies at the Center For Loss and Life Transition in Ft. Collins, CO. He is also a P.O.S.T. certified instructor, and will be taking on more responsibilities as he begins to teach at in-service, and to new recruits at the academy.

Mark enjoys spending time with his family. He is an avid pilot, and loves to fly Helicopters! He is a certified commercial pilot in helicopters, and currently finishing up his private pilot's certificate in fixed wing aircraft (airplanes), and Instrument Rating.

DETECTIVE JEREMY LEVY
Peer Counselor / Coordinator
LVMPD Police Employees Assistance Program

Jeremy has been an officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department since January 2000, and has four years prior police experience in Los Angeles, California and one year with the Federal Park Service (Lake Mead).

Jeremy has spent three years on the Homeless Evaluation Liaison Team Program, serving as the liaison between LVMPD and the homeless shelters, as well as for the substance abuse programs and mental health care providers. He is a three-year certified Crisis Intervention Team Officer and Instructor for new CIT officers. In 2004, he was named "Nevada Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year". In 2006, he was honored with the "National CIT Officer of the Year".

Jeremy came to PEAP from In Service Training where he worked for one year. He is also a P.O.S.T. certified instructor, and has already had the opportunity to teach at in-service, and to new recruits at the academy. Jeremy is currently completing his Certificate of Death and Grief Studies at the Center for Loss in Ft. Collins CO.

Because of Jeremy's vast background, in law enforcement and working as a CIT officer, he is excited for the opportunity to help his fellow peers in the METRO family with any issues that may come up. Jeremy is very proud to be an Officer but finds it a much bigger honor to be a Peer counselor.

DETECTIVE MARYLOU CROCKER
Peer Counselor/Coordinator
LVMPD Police Employees Assistance Program

MaryLou joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 2001 and has held various patrol assignments. In 2002 MaryLou attended the first CIT class becoming a certified Crisis Intervention Officer. Having the desire to assist those individuals in crisis and to continue her training, MaryLou attended communication classes, LVMPD's Hostage Negotiation Training, PATC's Hostage Negotiation Training, Power Communication through Rapport Leadership Institute and Death and Grief Studies at the Center For Loss and Life Transition in Ft. Collins, CO.

During her time on the Department MaryLou has formed many friendships and bonded with many people, and realizes that her Metro family has won a place in her heart. Seeing her Metro family affected by issues ranging from daily stressful situations to life-and-death events (to include her own involvement in an OIS), MaryLou realizes how important it is to care for one another.

MaryLou believes the ICARE acronym does not only apply to the community we serve, but as a Peer Counselor, it also applies to the employees of Metro and their families.