In response to the growing mental health crisis among law enforcement officers in Texas, the Blue Chip Program will be expanding statewide starting on Monday. This program offers free mental health resources to officers and has been praised by North Texas police chiefs and leaders for its potential to save lives.
In 2022, Texas recorded the highest number of law enforcement suicides in the country, with a total of 16 officer lives lost. Many officers are hesitant to seek help, even after experiencing traumatic incidents. The Blue Chip Program aims to address this issue by providing much-needed support to law enforcement officers.
The program was initially introduced in response to the mass shooting at the Allen outlets in 2023 and was based on a similar program within the Arlington Police Department. With this expansion, Texas will become the only state in the nation to offer both a statewide law enforcement peer support network and a program that provides anonymous and free mental health services to officers in need. This is a significant step towards ensuring that our brave law enforcement officers have access to the support they need to maintain their mental well-being and continue serving our communities with distinction.
