NYPD Turns to Therapy Dogs After Midtown Shooting: Aiding Police Officers in Overcoming Traumatic Incidents Using Canine Therapy
Therapy Dogs Provide Comfort and Support to NYPD Officers Following Mass Shooting
In the aftermath of the tragic mass shooting at 345 Park Ave. on July 28, which claimed four lives, therapy dogs played a crucial role in supporting the NYPD officers of the 19th Precinct.
On Aug. 7, Capt. Julieann Stapleton addressed her officers at an afternoon roll call, and the arrival of therapy dogs from NYPD Health and Wellness, Puppies Behind Bars, and the Tuckahoe Police Department's Chief Larry Rotta with his pooch Eddie, brought moments of joy and calm to the stationhouse.
The police officers were greeted by labradors who showed immediate joy and affection. One officer asked a labrador to tell a story, which prompted the dog to lay on the officer's legs. Another pup jumped into the arms of a cop during the visit.
The presence of the therapy dogs created a non-verbal, comforting outlet that encouraged officers to open up emotionally, something difficult to achieve through direct human communication alone. Officers physically engaged with the dogs by petting them or allowing the animals to jump into their arms, which helped ease the emotional burden after the tragedy.
According to Gloria Gilbert Stoga from Puppies Behind Bars, therapy dogs are "magical" in how they enable people, especially in difficult times, to express emotions and feel comforted after trauma. Chief Rotta emphasized that the impact of these therapy dogs is powerful and memorable for officers and victims alike, underscoring their importance in recovery from traumatic incidents.
Chief of Department John Chell was shaken by the level of death and destruction he witnessed during the incident. However, the therapy dogs provided a unique form of comfort that helped officers and victims process the trauma. Some officers crouched down to pet the dogs, while others allowed them to jump on them and lick their faces.
The officers of the 19th Precinct acted without a second thought during the emergency, and according to Stapleton, they are unable to move on from the incident as they will take a piece of it with them for the rest of their lives. There are concerns that some members of the precinct are still dealing with the horrors of the incident.
However, the presence of the therapy dogs provided a much-needed respite and helped the officers begin the process of healing. The impact of the dogs is significant and memorable due to the experience they provide, according to Chief Rotta. Therapy dogs, it seems, have a unique ability to comfort and help people express emotions, making them an invaluable asset in times of crisis.
[1] Source: New York Post, Aug. 8, 2023 [3] Source: CBS News, Aug. 10, 2023
Therapy dogs, part of the NYPD Health and Wellness program, were instrumental in providing comfort and support to the officers of the 19th Precinct following the mass shooting. In difficult times, these dogs, sourced also from Puppies Behind Bars and the Tuckahoe Police Department, enable people, including mental-health beneficiaries, to express emotions and find comfort after trauma, as underscored by Gloria Gilbert Stoga from Puppies Behind Bars.
