By Lt. John Haning
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Law enforcement officers are trained to remain calm in chaotic situations, to process tragedy without hesitation and to perform their duties with professionalism, regardless of the scene. But after the knock on the door, after the child rescue, after the death notification — what happens to the officers who carry those moments with them?
As a supervisor over a Criminal Investigations Division, I’ve learned that leading my team doesn’t end at the crime scene. It continues in the quiet, often invisible space that follows. High-impact investigations — especially those involving child exploitation, homicides, or violent personal trauma — can leave lasting emotional and psychological effects on investigators who work the worst cases that come into our agency. While these investigators may not always exhibit outward signs of stress, their mental and emotional load can accumulate quickly. When trauma goes unacknowledged, it quietly erodes job performance, morale and even lives.
The danger is not only in what we see, but in what we ignore.
Leadership in the aftermath of a dificult call
The supervisor’s role is essential in this space. After a particularly difficult scene or interview, we make it a point to connect with the investigator — not just to debrief the facts of the case, but to check in as a person. A simple, “How are you holding up?” can open the door for meaningful conversation.
I watch for signs that an investigator may need time, a temporary reduction in caseload, or just a moment to catch their breath before jumping back in. Some need quiet space; others benefit from talking it out or spending time with Rosco, our ESD K-9 and office support dog.
The key is recognizing that trauma response is not one-size-fits-all.
Building a culture of care
Creating a culture where this kind of support is normalized starts at the top. Leaders have to make wellness conversations routine, not reactive. In our division, we emphasize peer check-ins and encourage staff to speak up when something is weighing heavily on them.
I’ve shared my own challenges from earlier cases to show that even experienced investigators aren’t immune. That kind of vulnerability, when used appropriately, can be a powerful leadership tool. We also work closely with law enforcement peer support groups, trusted mental health professionals (our agency provides free mental health counseling to deputies and is working to expand that to families as well), and law enforcement chaplains who are trained to walk with our staff through the recovery process. We initiate this process immediately following any critical incident.
Proactively supporting our deputies isn’t just about empathy — it’s about effectiveness and retention. Burnout can lead to mistakes, poor decision-making, and increased turnover. If we want our best investigators to remain in the field long term, we must care for them as whole persons. That means recognizing when they’re masking pain behind a polite smile and stepping in — not to fix everything, but to remind them they’re not alone and we’ll walk with them through the recovery process.
In the Criminal Investigations Division, we often focus on solving cases and delivering justice. But justice also means standing by the men and women who do that work every day. After the knock, after the paperwork, after the press conference — leadership means asking, listening and supporting.
The badge doesn’t make someone bulletproof. Leadership does.
How do you check in with your team — and yourself — after a tough call? Share below.
About the author
Lieutenant John Haning serves as the Criminal Investigations Division supervisor for the Rogers County Sheriff’s Office in Oklahoma and supervises the Crisis Intervention deputies. With over 15 years in law enforcement, he has led or been involved with investigations involving homicides, child exploitation, and other significant crimes. He is a TFO with HSI, assigned to the Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Unit, and serves as the handler for Rosco, the ESD K9. Lt. Haning is committed to fostering a trauma-informed, mission-driven culture within the CID unit. He is a graduate student pursuing his Doctor of Forensic Science degree at Oklahoma State University and advocates for officer wellness, leadership accountability and ethical investigations.
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