The Tarpon Springs Police Department is taking a proactive approach to officer wellness by hosting specialized mental health training led by a trauma expert who was among the first responders to the Parkland school shooting.

Richard Best, president of Warrior Spirit Health and Wellness and a former law enforcement officer, conducted the two-day training program at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Best, who responded to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2017, has since transitioned into mental health counseling and now dedicates his work to helping first responders.

"When you're exposed to a critical incident, that wellness is very complex, from the top on down," Best said. "We talk about that, and we navigate ways to improve ourselves, build up our resiliency,

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