First Responder Support Group is now Active

MILAN, N.M. – Ever since he took the helm of Milan Police Department, Police Chief Carl Ustupski has made a massive push to focus on the mental health of the people of Milan, New Mexico, and the officers under his watch. He has created programs in the village to help connect those struggling through mental health crises find support and help to manage their feelings and emotions. Now, he is making a push to help all the first responders of Cibola County.

Designed as a way to connect first responders to assets they may need to help them process the sometimes tragic and horrific scenes they witness, Chief Ustupski said that the new First Responder Support Group is not mandadtory for anyone, but any first responder – even if they are retired – are more than welcome and cordially invited. Regardless of what group they fall under: Fire, emergency medical services, or law enfocrcement, all first responders are welcome to the MPD’s newest program.

“First responders are not robots,” Chief Ustupski said, “Officers, firefighters – we’re not robots. We are human, and sometimes we need to address the things that we’ve seen if we’re going to work through what stays with us after we leave a scene.” This is why Chief Ustupski has opened the program to retirees. He says they may need to share something that they’ve seen or are working through and that this program can be helpful.

Borders do not define this program. Regardless of where in Cibola County a first responder is, they are welcome to this support group. Chief Ustupski said that he has reached out to all local police departments and spread the word to Cibola Fire Marshal Dustin Middleton who has pushed this information out to fire departments across the county.

All first responders are welcome, including those who retired. Meetings will begin on January 3 at 7 p.m., please call Milan Police Department for the meeting location at 505-356-6718.

“In the past I would just tuck away my problems, but I have learned to talk about and work through my problems,” Chief Ustupski said, “Some people, especially [law enforcement officers] tuck away their problems. They’re afraid that if they show emotion they may not be fit for this job, that’s not the case.”

Can Non-First Responders Go?

First responders sometimes see gruesome and horrific things. For this reason, the support group will be closed to the general public, giving first responders an opportunity to share their problems and grow together, strengthening Cibola’s first responder teams.

Those in need of some mental health support have a number of resources they can take advantage of, including MPD’s You Are Not Alone Program. YANA is a program where village residents – whether elderly, military, or otherwise – can call Milan Police Department and ask to be signed up for this program that will connect you with either a friendly MPD officer or a chaplain who can talk to those in distress or loneliness.

Grants Police Chief Maxine Monte has said that she is working on getting YANA started for the City of Grants.

“Asking for help is not a sign of weakness,” Chief Ustupski said.