Providing emotional support for Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) officers is important for employee wellbeing, but also crucial for overall effectiveness and public trust.

In Dec. 2023, VBPD hired Jessica Huffman as the Police Wellness Coordinator to focus on encouraging healthy living and individual approaches to reduce stress and increase resilience among VBPD officers.

Services Available to VBPD Personnel

Cordico Officer Wellness

All VBPD staff have access to Cordico Officer Wellness, a confidential and anonymous app that offers resources created by clinicians and health experts to support mental health and wellness among VBPD personnel.

Peer Support

VBPD is proud to have a robust peer support program available for officers. Our Peer Support program connects officers with other officers who have overcome stressful and traumatic events and are uniquely qualified to assist those impacted.

VB Strong Center

The VB Strong Center is a partnership between the City of Virginia Beach and Sentara Health, serving as a hub to assist individuals impacted by the shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center on May 31, 2019.

Sentara Health Plans EAP

All City of Virginia Beach employees are eligible for Sentara Health Plans Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Sentara’s EAP offers counseling, behavioral risk management, critical incident response services and more, free of charge.

Comfort Dogs

VBPD has two comfort dogs, Simba and Gio, available for sworn and civilian personnel to spend time with.

Police Chaplains

VBPD Chaplains are religious or spiritual leaders who offer emotional and spiritual support to law enforcement personnel and their families, helping them cope with the challenges of the profession. Master Police Officers Dionne Paniza and Allen Perry supervise our chaplains.