The Speaker

Detective Felicia Richards was appointed to the NYC Police Department in 1986 and immediately became a member of the Housing Police Guardians Association. After the city merged in 1993 leading to the merger of the three Guardians Associations (Housing, Transit, and NYPD Guardians) into one fraternal organization, Detective Richards became the Housing Delegate for PSA 2. Detective Richards has held the following positions on the Executive Board: Housing Bureau Trustee 2008-2011: Recording Secretary 2012—2013;1st Vice President 2014—2017. She has sat as Co-Chair of the Community Outreach Committee, member of the Constitution & Bylaws Committee., and Chair of the Annual Black History Month Program Committee. It was her work on the NYPD Fraternal / Line Organization Reengineering Team that allowed for the incorporation of dues payment through payroll deduction (ESS). In May 2019, Detective Richards brought awareness to the historical entry of women as Guardians members at the “Women of the Guardians” Brunch, celebrating 59 years of membership.

Through Detective Richards’ work in community, the Guardians Association has enjoyed partnerships and collaborations with the numerous fraternal, business, and Community-Based Organizations.

During her time as President, Detective Richards has represented victims of Hostile Work Environment claims; appeared as the Line Organization representative at IAB; attended the funeral of Past Presidents; participated in Town Hall meetings discussing Marijuana Law reform, Daniel Pantaleo verdict, as well as the rise police suicides. From the beginning of her administration, Detective Richards has strived to work for the benefit of the organization and membership by encouraging committee involvement and expression of talent. It is her hope that she be allowed to continue the work she has begun as President of this organization thereby paving the way for a successful Guardians Association for future members.
Detective Richards has a B.A in Deviant Behavior & Social Control from John Jay College.

The Workshop

Mental Health First Aid : Thursday, September 29, 2022 08:00A

This program is a three-year basic certification program presented over a two-day period and has an added cost of $40.00 for materials.

When someone mentions officer wellness, we generally tend to think about an officer’s physical fitness. Rarely do we consider the mental and emotional health of an officer. During an officer’s career, he or she may experience a significant level of personal and/or professional stress, which could be acute or chronic in nature. Personal stress may arise from an officer dealing with a divorce/child custody, financial problems, the death of a loved one, an unhealthy relationship, disease, retirement, or mental illness (i.e. depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, PTSD, etc.). Professional stress is innate to the law enforcement profession. Vicarious trauma can result from the cumulative, ongoing effects that first responders are exposed to on a daily basis. This may include responding to gang-related shootings/homicides, unpredictable domestic incidents, traffic stops, catastrophic incidents, dealing with subjects who have a mental illness, and now second guessing ourselves in determining whether or not to use deadly force in today’s intense public scrutiny. These repeated incidents can have an adverse impact on officers’ wellbeing without them even realizing its effects.

Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.

Through discussions related to depression and mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma, psychosis, substance use disorders, and other issues, Mental Health First Aid teaches about recovery and resiliency – the belief that individuals experiencing these challenges can and do get better, and use their strengths to stay well.

Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based, in-person certification training program with proven ability to teach individuals how to recognize and respond to the warning signs of mental illness and substance use disorders and link people with appropriate treatment and support. Mental Health First Aid increases the understanding that mental illnesses are real, common and treatable.

This program is a three-year basic certification program presented over a two-day period and has an added cost of $40.00 for materials. The program has been presented as a part of the training process for the New York City Police Department.