Page 12 - February 2017

However, awareness continues to grow about the stress and trauma that officers’ experience. Organizations like
the Station House Retreat offer both inpatient and outpatient treatment, trauma therapy, and peer-support services
for police officers as well as all first responders. They also offer addiction treatment for first responders and
support for their family members.

About the Author: Michelle L. Beshears earned her baccalaureate degrees in social psychology and criminal
justice and graduate degrees in human resource development and criminology from Indiana State University. She
most recently completed her Ph.D. in Business Administration with a specialization in Criminal Justice. Michelle
served in the U.S. Army for 11 years. She obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant prior to attending Officer Candidate
School at Fort Benning, Georgia where she earned her commission. As a commissioned officer she led numerous
criminal investigations and worked with several external agencies as well. As a civilian, she has worked with the
local sheriff’s department, state drug task force and FBI. Michelle is currently an assistant professor of criminal
justice at American Military University and is full-time faculty in the School of Security and Global Studies. You
can contact her at Michelle.Beshears(at)mycampus.apus.edu

The Employee Assistance Unit (EAU)

The mission of the Employee Assistance Unit is to assist employees, retirees, and their families with simple to
complex challenges, whether personal or job related. Issues presented include alcohol and drug dependencies,
gambling, marriage stressors, critical and traumatic incidents, job stressors, military support, staff wellness, and
much more.

The EAU is staffed by three Sergeants and four Troopers who are motivated by a deep commitment to the well-
being of the Employees of the Massachusetts State Police, retirees, and their families. They promote healthy
lifestyles to ease the stress caused by the daily issues that arise and any highly traumatic issues, whether they
are personal or job related. The EAU staff functions as “peer counselors” helping fellow employees and their
families to address issues affecting their lives. They also have an extensive resource directory, so that issues
beyond the scope of the unit can be addressed by community professionals. The EAU services are of no cost to
the employee or their family members. All services provided by the EAU are CONFIDENTIAL!

Our Military Liaison Officer,Tpr. Ed Hartwell, is establishing a Military Peer Support program to assist our veterans
and their family members while they undertake their military obligations. Please feel free to reach out to him at
Edmund.Hartwell@massmail.state.ma.us

Sergeant Karen DeMasi served as unit commander for the EAU since 2008. Unfortunately for us, she recently
retired after 28 years of service with the State Police. Sergeant DeMasi graduated from the State Police Academy
in 1988 as a member of the 69 RTT. She worked in Troops A and C and was a member of the A Troop Community
th
Action Team before spending 10 years in the Fleet Section, from 1998-2008. Several personal factors drove
Sergeant DeMasi to pursue a place in the EAU. Trooper Vinny Cila’s wife is a dear friend of Karen’s. She
introduced them. When Trooper Cila died, she did what any good friend would do (and what came so naturally
to her); she helped her friend and his family. A year after Trooper Cila passed, Trooper Paul Barry died. Paul
was a subordinate of Karen’s at Fleet, and she, again, helped another greiving widow and her family through the
devastating loss that comes with a line of duty death. More than 10 years later, she still played an active roll in
their lives. Karen transitioned into the EAU already doing the work. As Karen said many times, “the most visible
part of our job is the work we do with the widows.” Although it is a rewarding part of our job, we do similar heart
felt work with other members on a daily basis.

The Employee Assistance Unit would like to thank Sergeant DeMasi for all her hard work throughout the years
and wishe her all the best in her retirement!

F r en c h·a n d·E le c t r ic·B l ue·F e b r u a r y·2017·p a g e·12