Jill Schramm/MDN Capt. Dale Plessas speaks with the Minot City Council Monday during conversation about an outreach and aftercare program for officers experiencing trauma. At left is council member Lisa Olson.

In a show of support for Minot’s police force, the Minot City Council agreed Monday to work with a Florida-based program to bring new mental health services to the department.

Council member Rob Fuller noted the loss of two officers to suicide in the past three years in urging the council to look at establishing an outreach and aftercare program for officers and first responders who are struggling with post-traumatic stress. The concern about the absence of a program came from a family member of one of the deceased officers, who has facilitated connections with FHE Health. FHE Health has established a program for first responders in Florida called Shatterproof and is interested in helping Minot implement a similar program, Fuller said.

“Currently, there are no outreach or aftercare programs in North Dakota for officers or first responders, something that urgently needs to change. These programs are pretty common in larger cities and other states, but here, we have a unique opportunity to be leaders in this effort, not only for Minot, but for all the first responders in our state,” Fuller said. “I don’t believe, honestly, that there’s anything more important right now in our city than this.”

Assistant City Manager Tom Joyce said the intent is to set up a meeting with a representative of FHE Health.

“It’s not just for the police department, although that’s the initial focus, but other emergency services – fire department, dispatch. That group has different needs than most of us,” Joyce said.

Capt. Dale Plessas, who currently leads the police department, also spoke to indicate the issue is a priority for the department. The department lost officers to apparent suicides on Dec. 29, 2022, and this past Oct. 31.

Separately, the council heard from the local Fraternal Order of Police regarding the success of two community events. Aaron Moss with the fraternal lodge reported on the Stuff a Squad Car toy drive on Dec. 1.

“The citizens of Minot really did come through again this year and donated four squad cars worth of toys, which was shared with Community Action Partnership, the Minot Area Homeless Coalition and the Domestic Violence Crisis Center,” Moss said.

This past weekend, the fraternal lodge held its annual Shop with a Cop event, with 147 children participating, a record-breaking number, Moss said. Each child, selected based on need, received $200 to purchase items for themselves and their families. Statewide, several participating lodges are expected to assist about 500 children this year, he said.