SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 1, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — The Salt Lake City Police Department has hired a full-time licensed clinical mental health counselor for all police employees.
Jaime Welch joins SLCPD with 25 years of direct counseling experience, said a news release. She specializes in the treatment of trauma and other co-occurring disorders in first responders.
“We are so proud to welcome Jaime Welch to our Salt Lake City Police family,” said SLCPD Police Chief Mike Brown. “Jaime brings counseling expertise in the fields of trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide prevention, first responder treatment, and crisis management.
“Jaime is adaptable, creative and her passion is serving first responders. She brings a deep desire to helping others in law enforcement. In her short amount of time with our department, Jaime has proven herself to be a leader in this field and she is helping our officers and professional staff to prepare and help them safely cope with the psychological strain of their duties.”
Welch joined SLCPD in September 2021. Funding for this position was granted by the City Council on July 1, 2021.
“Welch’s state license to practice mental health therapy requires her to adhere to medical privacy laws and to maintain employee confidentiality,” the news release said. “SLCPD employees may schedule appointments to meet with Welch during work hours without the need to use time off.”
As part of her assignment, Welch is the coordinator for the department’s Employee Wellness Program and its Peer Support Program. Both programs help SLCPD employees cope with traumatic experiences and the unique stress that comes with being a first responder, the news release said.
In the video below, Welch describes her new position.
