Mental Health Program Turns Officer into Counselor-Cop

Top-notch faculty and dedicated students make learning experience a positive one

Sacred Heart University graduate student Bart Wichowski knew since he was a child that he wanted to be a police officer. He never pictured himself as a counselor. Today, he’s actually both, and the education he’s receiving at SHU is helping him be successful in what might be seen as two different worlds.

Wichowski, 41, is a mental health police officer with the New Britain Police Department (NBPD). His LinkedIn page describes him as the department’s first. “My duties are to be the primary response officer to all calls for service regarding mental health crises, unhoused issues and substance usage,” the posting states. “These duties also include follow-up investigation, service navigation and providing comfort to not only those individuals in crisis, but also family members involved.”

Wichowski, who has been with the NBPD 10 years, enrolled in the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development’s clinical mental health counseling program last year. He has been absorbing everything his professors teach him and applying his knowledge less than eight hours later in his New Britain community.

That’s testament to the program’s quality, according to Edward (Franc) Hudspeth, chair and associate professor of counselor education. “The clinical mental health counseling program provides a well-rounded, educational foundation, along with the opportunity to adapt that to the settings, populations and issues students want to address,” Hudspeth said. “The support that faculty and advisors offer further helps students apply what they learn to different situations and people.”

As mental health officers, Wichowski and his partner respond to calls about individuals suffering from mental health crises. Sometimes, the two officers spend their entire day with one person who may be dealing with suicidal thoughts, depression or other mental health issues.

Wichowski said he decides how long he should stay with the individual. Besides talking to the person, he and his partner make phone calls to agencies, hospitals and other resources that can provide additional assistance. “We do the research and make the calls,” Wichowski said. “We do whatever we need to do to help that person feel better.”

Helping is the key word, according to Hudspeth. “It brings pride as we see the next generation of counselors developing,” he said. “We are honored to have the opportunity and grateful for the amazing students we have in our program. Bart embodies what we want to see our students doing—helping and advocating.”

How it all started

Wichowski, born in Poland, came to Connecticut when he was about two, and he knew at around age 10 that he wanted to be a police officer. He liked helping people, being of service and being relied upon. Plus, he liked the camaraderie he felt working with others.

After high school, Wichowski joined the Connecticut National Guard while attending Southern Connecticut State University. He had to put his studies on hold in February of 2002, however, when he was called to active duty and deployed to Baghdad, Iraq.

When he returned to Connecticut, he joined the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Police. He worked seven years in the department and retired as a sergeant before joining the NBPD. “That was the field I really wanted to go into. I wanted to work in a city environment,” Wichowski said.

In New Britain, he initially trained officers and was involved in the crisis negotiation unit. To improve his skills, he returned to school and earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern New Hampshire University.

Studying psychology opened Wichowski’s eyes to new possibilities. That’s when he realized he could make a difference as a counselor. He started researching clinical mental health counseling programs and came across SHU’s. The program seemed promising, and he was impressed when he read about the faculty members. “Everyone’s background was amazing,” he said. “They had so much experience in the field.”

Enrolling in the program led to his current position with the NBPD. Wichowski works for the police department during the day and reads and preps for his classes in the evening. He also juggles clinical and internship hours.

“I’m learning so many things: how people’s childhoods impact the way they developed or respond to situations. There are all these things I wish I had known earlier in my life. I’ve really thrown myself into this program, and it’s incredible,” he said. “I learn something new every day.”

It still surprises Wichowski that as someone initially drawn to the strategic aspects of police work, he now uses his words to help people. Daily, he assists those in crisis, often putting himself in harm’s way to make others feel safe. Each week brings something new, and while the work can be exhausting, he knows he’s helping a community in need. He said he feels appreciated by his fellow students, colleagues and supervisors, and he hopes other police departments follow suit and hire mental health officers to better help their communities.

Wichowski is a perfect example of how policing and counseling can work together, according to Hudspeth. “When you have the opportunity to help an individual when and where they are most vulnerable, you have the opportunity to mitigate their burden,” Hudspeth said. “Bart is meeting those in need of help in the situations and environments where the need occurs, rather than those people having to seek out the help. He is an advocate for how policing and counseling can coexist, benefiting individuals and the public.”