CopLine wants to be part of the solution by reducing the stigma associated with reaching out for help.  It is imperative for law enforcement officers to have a safe place they can call to talk about anything occurring in their life. Issues from on-duty stressors involving FTO’s/Supervisors, management decisions, hatred from community members and violence/trauma experienced from patrol and off-duty stressors such as addictions, financial pressure and relationship issues. Officers who are struggling with flashbacks, nightmares, depression, PTSD and suicide ideation should not have to worry about “a knock on their door” after revealing their personal story.

CopLine is the only hotline in the world dedicated exclusively to law enforcement officers and their families that also recognizes the critical link between head impact and trauma (HIT), blast overpressure (BOP) injuries, and mental health. Guided by emerging empirical data, CopLine acknowledges that many officers have sustained non-concussive, subclinical, and concussive injuries throughout their careers, often unnoticed or unreported  which can manifest as depression, anxiety, impulsivity, sleep disturbances, or post-traumatic stress.

Despite these realities, few mental health professionals or medical providers routinely ask officers about their lifetime exposure to HIT or BOP. This gap in understanding can lead to years of misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment, as conditions that appear psychological may, in fact, be neurologically driven.

To bridge this gap, CopLine volunteers receive specialized training that enables them to ask informed and resonant questions designed to help callers explore possible HIT/BOP exposure and its effects. Through compassionate conversation, listeners gather information that allows CopLine to better understand each caller’s situation and connect them with the most appropriate resources and support. No other law-enforcement or crisis line in the world takes this integrative approach to addressing the intersection of neurological and psychological wellness.

In addition, CopLine’s Director developed a free, confidential HIT/BOP Self-Assessment Tool, available to all law enforcement officers worldwide. The form which can be completed individually, with family members, or coworkers helps officers recall potential exposures and bring that information to mental health or medical professionals. By identifying possible head or blast exposures early, the assessment can guide providers toward more accurate diagnoses and appropriate treatment options, helping to prevent years of overlooked comorbidity and suffering.

‍Access the HIT/BOP Self-Assessment Form →

Our goal is to make available our resource so that officers from all law enforcement branches (city, state, federal) have an outlet which they can turn to in times of need. If we provide our resource to every officer from their first day on the job, informing them that they will never be alone, then officers will have the tools necessary to navigate those difficult situations in their life. We believe if officers have a CONFIDENTIAL place to call to relieve stress and anxiety, those crucial moments won’t build up and lead to higher at-risk behavior including suicide.

We are dedicated to our callers, and “Cops understand Cops” is far more than a catchphrase, it’s the foundation of who we are. Our listeners know firsthand the rigors of the law enforcement profession. Many have faced similar challenges, including cumulative trauma, stress, head impacts, and blast overpressure injuries, as well as the resulting mental health effects such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Because of this shared understanding, we are deeply committed to answering every officer’s call or their loved one’s.

Volunteering on a hotline is rewarding and our folks are our most important commodity. We empower our volunteers to fulfill their responsibilities with knowledge, training and appropriate discretion. We encourage our folks to submit ideas, we listen to their suggestions and we help them develop to their maximum potential. We believe in treating all officers with respect and dignity by showing a sincere level of concern and empathy. By demonstrating respect for others, we gain respect and support for our overall mission. We will strive to achieve the highest level of quality in all aspects of our volunteer duties. We can never be satisfied with the status quo so we must aim for continuous improvement, support creativity and dedicate ourselves to proactively seeking new and better ways to serve our callers. COPLINE® volunteers conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the highest level of honor and integrity.