A longtime Dallas Police officer who helped launch mental health initiatives serving officers is retiring.
Mathis-Thornton later developed an interest in counseling and returned to school to get her master's degree.
“All of the sudden, my path just started changing, and I realized it was my second calling,” Mathis-Thornton said. “I didn't realize that counseling can be done without a counseling license. I was just being who I was.” She went on to answer calls for help from her brothers and sisters in blue as the peer support coordinator. She also helped launch the Wellness Unit dedicated to helping address the
of officers that have responded to murders, deadly accidents and other traumatic incidents through counseling.Sign up for NBC DFW newsletters"I coordinate, advise, train and provide mental health guidance for approximately 100 peer supporters and check point officers both sworn and civilian of all ranks," Mathis-Thornton said.
"I had some officers who had suicidal ideations, and I even stayed on the phone for three to four hours and helped them until they got out of that dark place," Mathis-Thornton said.
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