Newswise — GARFIELD, N.J.—The National Police Defense Foundation (NPDF) recognized Cop2Cop, a 24-hour peer-to-peer helpline for law enforcement officers and their families directed by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey–University Behavioral HealthCare (UMDNJ-UBHC), at its annual awards dinner October 10. Program Director Cherie Castellano received the 2012 State Troopers Coalition “Woman of the Year Award” and Cop2Cop’s peer counselor staff was honored with a “Special Achievement Group Award.” “This prestigious award was presented to Cherie Castellano in recognition of her lifelong accomplishments as the director of the Cop2Cop program,” said Joseph Occhipinti, NPDF Founder and Executive Director. “In addition, we recognize the key staff that administers this program and has been credited for preventing many police suicides.” Since its founding in 2000, Cop2Cop has become an essential program for law enforcement personnel, fielding 30,000 helpline calls and other contacts and helping to avert more than 193 suicides. The success of Cop2Cop led to the creation of UMDNJ-UBHC’s NJVet2Vet, a similar peer-to-peer program established in 2005. Cop2Cop, which shares NPDF’s mission of supporting and honoring officers wounded in the line of duty, took the occasion of the award presentation to give a specialhonor to Brian Malast, a New Jersey State Trooper who was wounded in the line of duty. Malast was invited to join the Cop2Cop Wounded Officer Support Group, which was founded in 2004. The toll-free 24/7 Cop2Cop helpline number is 1-866-COP-2COP (1-866-267-2267).
Photos of Cherie Castellano and the Cop2Cop call center available for download here.Journalists wishing to interview Cherie Castellano or Cop2Cop peer counselors can contact Patti Verbanas at 973.972.7273 or at [email protected].
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