Peer Support Program
The LVMPD Peer Support Program is a voluntary program and provides crisis intervention, peer-to-peer support and referrals for LVMPD employees and their immediate family members. Trained peer supporters understand the challenges associated with public safety work and help connect people with appropriate resources.
Seeking assistance is a sign of courage.
How the Program Began
The Police Employee Assistance Program (PEAP) was established in September 1984 by Detective Ed Jensen and Lieutenant Jerry Keller, who later became LVMPD’s fourth sheriff. The program initially focused on providing immediate emotional support to employees involved in shootings and other critical incidents.
Over time, the program expanded to support both commissioned and civilian employees experiencing work-related or personal challenges. In 2023, PEAP transitioned into the Peer Support Program under the Wellness Bureau.
Why Peer Support Matters
Public safety employees may experience critical incidents, chronic stress, grief and other challenges that affect their professional and personal lives. Peer Support gives employees and their families a place to talk with someone who understands these experiences and can help them identify appropriate resources.
Who We Are
Peer supporter liaisons are commissioned and civilian LVMPD employees with a variety of professional and personal experiences. They listen without judgment, provide support and help employees and family members connect with Wellness Bureau clinicians, counselors, chaplains and other resources when appropriate.
What We Do
Peer Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for crisis intervention. Peer supporters may respond following officer-involved shootings, serious accidents, injuries and other critical incidents.
The program also provides:
- Individual peer support
- Follow-up support after critical incidents
- Group support and debriefings
- Referrals to counselors, psychologists, chaplains and other professionals
- Education about stress management, grief, suicide prevention, communication and other wellness topics
When Peer Support Can Help
Peer Support may assist with:
- Officer-involved shootings and other critical incidents
- Serious injuries or deaths
- Grief and loss
- Stress and anxiety
- Workplace or personal concerns
- Family and relationship concerns
- Substance use concerns
- Military deployment and veteran resources
- Other concerns involving an employee or immediate family member
What Peer Support Does Not Do
The program cannot:
- Influence decisions throughout the department
- Weigh-in on promotions, shifts, areas of assignments, matters of discipline, administrative leave, or ability to return to duty
Privacy and Confidentiality
Participation in Peer Support is confidential, except when disclosure is required by law or Department policy. Exceptions may include an immediate threat of harm to oneself or another person.
Employees and family members may ask a peer supporter to explain the limits of confidentiality before sharing personal information.
Contacting Peer Support is not documented in an employee’s personnel file and does not affect promotional or transfer opportunities.
Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 281.805 (opens in a new window) establishes strict confidentiality protections for peer support counseling sessions involving law enforcement and public safety personnel. NRS 49.293 (opens in a new window) protects the confidentiality of communications made during peer support counseling sessions between law enforcement or public safety personnel and a designated counselor.
Contact Peer Support
Call Peer Support at (702) 828-3357
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1. For immediate emotional or mental health support, call 9-8-8 or text 9-8-8.