Sheriffs and DPS report slow cultural change and widespread use of first‑responder wellness grants

Sheriff Glover, speaking for the Utah Sheriffs’ Association, and Beau Mason, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, told the committee that programs to support first‑responder mental health are expanding but that sustaining services beyond one‑time grant funding remains a challenge. The 2022 wellness grant program originally provided $5 million and received an additional $5 million; Mary Kellogg, DPS grants administrator, said the program has issued roughly 173 awards after 184 applications and that about one‑third of grantees have fully spent their awards. Sheriff Glover said the culture around seeking care is slowly changing and that peer support programs, on‑duty access to therapists, apps such as Mindbase, and evidence‑based programs like Ventania have proven effective for many agencies. “Cops, wanna be tough and wanna, you know, have a certain persona. And…taking care of ourselves is not always the first priority. And, so what works, it kinda depends on the severity of the issue,” he said. He described mandatory or optional wellness checks, follow‑up services, and creative peer‑support activities such as outdoor team events and spouse peer groups. Kellogg and Commissioner Mason said the grant funds are largely committed; Kellogg told the committee that remaining critical‑incident set‑aside funds totaled about $912,000 and that a committee would consider more awards. She said some agencies have tapped critical‑incident funds and that the department is reaching out to affected jurisdictions following recent shootings in northern Utah. Mason and Kellogg both said that while the grants have broadened services — including availability through insurance carriers, on‑staff therapists, and remote providers like StepStone Connect — some agencies worry about funding continuity once grant awards end. No committee vote was taken on grant policy during the briefing.