Page 8 - PCPA Winter 2025 Bulletin Magazine

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE (CONTINUED)
every day. They share in the anxiety of late-night
calls, the exhaustion after critical incidents, and the
emotional toll of what our officers experience. They
need our acknowledgment, inclusion, and support
just as much as our officers do.
Comprehensive wellness programs must therefore
reach beyond the walls of our departments. They
should include family engagement, mental health
outreach, financial planning assistance, and
training that equip supervisors to identify early
warning signs of stress or burnout. When we
care for the whole person, officer and family, we
strengthen the foundation of every department in
the Commonwealth.
The Work of the PCPA Wellness
Committee
I want to take a moment to recognize the outstanding
work being done by the PCPA Wellness Committee.
Under their dedicated leadership, the committee has
taken meaningful strides toward building a culture of
wellness across the Commonwealth.
The committee is working diligently to develop a
comprehensive template of best practices that can
be integrated into agencies of all sizes. Their goal
is to provide a clear and adaptable framework that
supports emotional, psychological, physical, and
family wellness ensuring that every department has
the tools to build and sustain a culture of care.
I urge any of you who have implemented successful
wellness initiatives within your agency, county, or
region to reach out to Vice President and Chairman
of the Wellness Committee, Chief Tony Cortazo,
to share your ideas and programs. The more we
collaborate and learn from one another, the stronger
our collective impact will be.
Perhaps most importantly, the Wellness Committee
is helping to break the long-standing silence
surrounding mental health in our profession. We
look forward to expanding these efforts through
training opportunities, peer networking, and
practical wellness programs that empower officers
and their families to seek support, build resilience,
and strengthen one another before a crisis occurs.
Their work is not just about surviving this profession;
it’s about allowing our officers to thrive in it.
Moving Forward Together
As President, I believe one of the most powerful
ways we can honor the memories of Cody, Mark,
and Isaiah is by committing ourselves to the well-
being of every officer who continues to serve. The
next step in our profession’s evolution is to make
wellness an operational priority embedded in our
policies, budgets, training, and daily leadership.
I encourage each of you to stay actively engaged
with the Wellness Committee and to model what
wellness-focused leadership truly looks like within
your departments. Talk to your officers and staff,
listen to their challenges, celebrate their successes,
and remind them that seeking help is a sign of
strength, not weakness. Just as importantly, do
not forget the spouses and children who share
the weight of this profession. The wellness of our
officers cannot be sustained without the wellness of
their families. By supporting the entire circle, officer
and family alike, we create a foundation for lasting
health, resilience, and service.
The Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association has
long been the voice of progress and professionalism
in our state. Together, we can continue to lead
the way, not just in technology, training, and
accreditation, but in compassion, humanity, and
care for those who serve.
Thank you again for your kindness, your friendship,
and your unwavering commitment to one another.
I am proud to stand among you, and I know that
through our shared purpose, we will continue to
guide this profession toward a stronger, healthier
future.
Together in wellness,
PA CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION
David L. Lash
President, Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association
Chief of Police, Northern York County Regional
Police Department
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