Chief Deputy Justin Miller On Transforming Law Enforcement Mental Health: Culture Change, Officer Wellness, and Redefining Leadership

Host:

• Dr. Ashlee Gethner, LCSW – Child of a Police Officer

• Jennifer Woosley Saylor, LPCC S – Child of a Police Officer

Guest:

• Chief Deputy Justin Miller, Kenosha Sheriff’s Office

Episode Overview:

In this insightful episode, Ashlee and Jennifer, welcome Chief Deputy Justin Miller from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Miller shares his journey from serving as a Navy psychiatric technician to law enforcement leadership, opening up about how personal experiences and organizational gaps in mental health support shaped his mission to prioritize officer wellness.

Key Topics Covered

• The Struggle for Support: Chief Deputy Miller recounts moments where, due to budget cuts, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and peer support teams were unavailable, leaving officers without organizational resources for mental well-being.

• Personal Impact: He discusses the life events that first drew his attention to the importance of officer mental health, from the suicide of a significant other to his own family losses, and the organizational culture’s lack of compassion.

• Culture Shift in Law Enforcement: The conversation delves into the challenges of changing a deeply ingrained “rub dirt on it” mindset, and how being promoted doesn’t always mean having a real voice for change.

• Innovative Wellness Initiatives: Chief Deputy Miller outlines current strategies in his department.

• Breaking the Stigma: Chief Deputy Miller explains how officer education, transparency, and leadership modeling are critical for long-term cultural change.

• Family & Community Impact: The importance of involving officer families in wellness programs—offering access to resources, education, and community-building events.

• Advice for Leaders & Providers: For law enforcement administrators - Be humble, open to new ideas, prioritize serving your people, and build cultures where feedback leads to actionable change. For mental health professionals - There’s a pressing need for more providers trained to understand first responder culture, as well as resources tailored for both officers and their families.

• From Struggle to Success: Chief Deputy Miller shares that Kenosha has achieved zero vacancies in both patrol and corrections—a rarity in the current law enforcement climate—and credits a strong, invested culture of wellness and leadership development.

Resources Mentioned:

• Cortico Wellness App

• Smart Dollar (Ramsey Solutions)

• The Fearless Organization by Amy C. Edmondson

• The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni

 

If this episode resonated with you or if you have stories to share about living with a first responder, reach out to Ashlee and Jennifer on their social media platforms!

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