The function of the peer mentoring program is to assist employees with getting the assistance they may want or need with various wellness issues (nutritional, finance, marital, work-related, etc.). The program is not designed to substitute or replace any type of counseling or professional mental health assistance.

Sgt. Jason Hancock has been with the Lubbock Police Department since July 2006. In his time with the department Jason has been assigned to Patrol and Investigations. After field training Jason spent approximately 5 years in Patrol, working most of that time on Night Shift. Jason loved his time on patrol but found that he wanted to try something new after several years. Jason was then assigned to the Investigations Division in the Juvenile Section. This allowed Jason to truly find his passion of helping children that have been in abusive situations and make sure the perpetrators are brought to justice. While assigned to the Juvenile Section Jason made it a goal to ensure that every officer within the LPD was properly trained in dealing with Juvenile victims and suspects. He did this by teaching every basic academy class and often teaching in service classes covering child abuse investigations. During the second part of his time in investigations Jason joined the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, overseen by the Dallas Police Department. This allowed Jason to work closely with multiple local agencies and federal agencies. Keeping his mental wellness in mind Jason decided it was time for another change and he promoted to Sergeant in May 2019. Jason returned to patrol and supervised numerous squads on several shift over the next couple of years. In February 2022 Jason received the honor of returning to Investigations to supervise the ICAC and Juvenile Offenders squad. This is his current assignment.

Jason has been involved with the LPD Wellness program and the Peer Support Team since the start of the program and feels that it is the most important work he has been able to do while at LPD. 

Outside of his duties with the Lubbock Police Department Jason loves spending time with his wife, Amy, and his dogs. The dogs rule the house, we just get the pleasure of living there. Jason enjoys camping and hiking and tries to spend as much time as possible in the mountains. He considers this time away “civilization” to be an integral part of his mental wellness.  

Dr. Andy Young is a retired Professor of Psychology and Counseling from Lubbock Christian University and has been a practicing counselor and marriage and family therapist since 1999. He has been with the Lubbock Police Department since 2000 and serves as the coordinator for the department’s Victim Services Crisis Team. He also serves on the SWAT Negotiating Team as a Negotiator and Psychological Consultant. He helps to coordinate and is the clinical director for the department’s Critical Incident Stress Management Team and has authored a few books on the topics of crisis intervention, law enforcement, and hostage (crisis) negotiations.

Courtney was born in Colorado and moved to Lubbock in 2011 to pursue her degree at Texas Tech University. She obtained her Bachelor’s in Biology with a minor in chemistry as well as her Master’s in Forensic Sciences. Courtney completed graduate research entitled “Identifying Arsenic Concentrations in Decomposing Tissues and Surrounding Soils”. She then went on to be hired as the second civilian in the Lubbock Police Department’s Forensic Investigation Unit in 2018. Currently she is a Forensic Specialist II, a Certified Crime Scene Analyst through the International Association for Identification, a board member for LPD’s Women’s Wellness, a planning committee member for the Women of Law Enforcement, and a candidate for the Oklahoma State University Doctoral of Forensic Sciences. Migrating into the world of death investigations has been no easy task. Courtney hopes that in sharing her testimony as a civilian in law enforcement as well as overcoming the constant interaction with death can help others to feel that they are not alone.

Courtney is the lover of all animals and the mother to a 5 year old German Shorthair Pointer named Roper. It is a requirement of hers that if anyone on her squad encounters an animal on scene, they take a picture for her to view later. Some of her hobbies include running races, reading, cracking jokes and of course anything animal related. Some of her current goals are to establish civilian policy/benefits as well as train LPD’s first ever cadaver dog.

Hey Y’all, I am Deborah Silva Steppe and this is my family. I am part of the Civilian Wellness Committee with our department and a Peer Supporter. Just a little info on myself. I was born and raised here in good ‘ol Lubbock and somehow ended up with a Minnesota guy. We met at the Grand Prairie Jail and been married for 13 years. I started out life as a funeral director/embalmer and then slowly began to get into the Law Enforcement life. Worked TSA for 10 years before I started here with LPD in September of 2021. So yea I probably took some liquids from ya, sorry!! I started out at North Division Station and currently work at Headquarters. I am also a LEOW, husband works for South Plains Auto Theft Task Force. We have two girls 10 and 12, and I have two step children. Love to go saltwater fishing, camping, and love some desserts. I am trying my best to get our Civilians noticed, appreciated and involved with the department. Y’all are truly the back bone. If there is ever anything I can do never hesitate to call, text or email me. Thank y’all for all y’all do!

Sean was born and raised in Lubbock Texas. His dream was always to become a Police Officer. After years of hard work, Sean was hired on the Lubbock Police Department in 2015. He has spent all 8 years of being an officer on patrol working a variety of shifts. Over the years, he has been certified as a TCOLE instructor, Firearms instructor, Asp Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Taser Instructor, Field Training Officer, and Mental Health Officer. He has been apart of the Hostage Negotiator Team since 2020. That same year he also received the Officer of the Year award. These opportunities have only deepened his passion for the service of others. He was honored and humbled to be selected as apart of the Peer Support Group in 2022. He has overcome many of life’s challenges and continues to do what it takes to take care of himself - understanding the extra weight of police work.

Sean met the love of his life, Ashley, by patrolling a neighborhood park. Ashley had her dog off a leash and Sean stopped to let her know the park rules. They married in 2018 and started their family. They have a 3 year old, 1 year old, and the dog that was off the leash. Some of Sean’s hobbies include working out in his family’s home gym, being outside, reading, watching movies, hiking, cooking, playing soccer, and fly fishing. 

Chance has been employed by the Lubbock Police Department since August of 2017. Chance graduated the police academy in February of 2018. After graduating the Police Academy, Chance worked on patrol in North and North East Lubbock for three and a half years. In September of 2021, Chance applied and accepted a position on the Nighttime Enforcement Unit. Chance is currently still working with this unit.

Prior Employment

Prior to his career in law enforcement, Chance worked for Riverbend Retreat Center from May of 2014 until December of 2014. Riverbend is a host facility for summer church camps in the summer and a retreat center for businesses in the winter. Chance served on the summer staff as a lifeguard and served during the winter season as maintenance and grounds keeper. In December of 2014 Chance accepted a position with Slaton Independent School District, as maintenance, grounds keeper, and school bus driver. During this time Chance obtained his C.D.L. Chance worked for Slaton I.S.D. until August of 2017. During his employment with Slaton I.S.D., Chance worked a second job as a lifeguard at the Slaton City Pool during the summers to supplement his income.

Credentials

Chance graduated from Southland High School in May of 2014. Chance graduated the Basic Police Academy in February of 2018. Chance gained his intermediate peace officer certificate in the summer of 2022. Chance is a Mental Health Peace Officer. Chance has 5 and half years of law enforcement experience. Chance completed and passed a Crossfit Level 1 Trainer course in the summer of 2020 and received his CFL1. Chance has one year of coaching experience, coaching CrossFit. During his time with the Lubbock Police Department Chance has approximately 1600 hours of training through T.C.O.L.E.

Faith

Chance accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in March of 2016. Chance was baptized shortly after. Chance actively seeks opportunities to grow in his faith while also seeking to help others in their daily walk with Christ. Chance is active in his home church and volunteers with ministry programs. Chance recently visited Israel and rededicated his life to Christ.

Fitness

Along with coaching Crossfit and being an advocate for health, wellness, and fitness, Chance engages in physical activity daily. Chance has strong dedication to his health and well-being. Chance will always offer help and guidance to anyone seeking to eat nutritiously and live an active lifestyle. Chance spends the majority of his free time training Crossfit, coaching Crossfit, meal prepping, and learning techniques/ skills to be a better athlete and a healthier individual.

Hobbies

When not at the gym, Chance enjoys riding his motorcycle, shooting at the range, relaxing at home with his dog Jinx, playing pool, and reading scripture.

Experiences

On August 13^th, 2010 Chance lost his step-father to suicide. Since then Chance has made it a priority in his life to further his knowledge of mental health and attempt to provide assistance to those suffering from loss, trauma, suffering, and other life events. Chance, having experienced the hardships of life strives to be an example of the positive that can come from negative experiences.  

John Willhelm was raised in a Permian basin oilfield town when he graduated high school in 2006. From there, he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed first in Incirlik, Turkey for 15 months and then in Aviano, Italy for 3 years. He was a Security Forces Member providing security for nuclear weapons. While in the AF, John married his high school sweetheart Tiffany and they have now been married for 15 years

After separating from the AF, John went through the Lubbock Police Academy in 2011. Since graduation, he worked midnights on patrol for 5 years. During this time, he became an FTO, MHPO, CSO, and a TCOLE/Firearms Instructor. After these 5 years, John was assigned as the LPD Range master at the LPD academy where he taught a all firearms instruction for BPOC and large amount of patrol in service firearms training. 

In 2018, John was part of a group that proposed the development of the Crisis Intervention Unit and was removed from the academy position to be assigned to this unit. Since 2018, John has been a full time Mental Health Officer responding to crises in the community with a mental health component.

While a part of CIT, John worked with the LPD to be awarded a federal grant that created the LPD Wellness Program. He is a certified peer mentor through Crisis Support Solutions, has an advanced certification in CISM Individual, and is one of the current chairs of the wellness program.

When off duty, John uses this valuable time to ride motorcycles on long distance trips to get away from the job, works out daily to manage the day to day life stressors, and you can often find him at the LPD range for range therapy while training for a variety of shooting competitions. His wife Tiffany accompanies him, on her own motorcycle, on most of his trips. She works as an accountant at People’s Bank. They do not have any children but are devoted “pup parents” to a 10 year old German Shorthaired Pointer named Doc (as in Holiday).

Thomas began working at the Lubbock Police Department in February of 2013. He worked for 7 years on patrol, exclusively working nights. During this time, he served as a field training officer, helping to train more than 40 new officers. Thomas also served as a Mental Health Peace Officer and spent several years as a Hostage Negotiator.

In 2018, Thomas was involved in a critical incident, which forced him to confront the reality of how deeply a profession in law enforcement can impact each and every area of a person’s life. It was during this time that Thomas recognized he could help others that might be struggling as a result of their own unique situations.

Thomas developed a strong desire to support his fellow officers and to help effect positive change for the future of the LPD. As a result, he serves on the CISM team and was among the first group of officers to receive specialized training for Peer Support. He also has specialized training in crisis intervention and utilizes his background in ministry to help offer discreet assistance and hope to anyone who needs it.

Since 2021, Thomas has worked in Investigations as part of the Special Victims, Crimes Against Children unit. Although he has found success as a detective, he maintains a passion for street work (as well as training new officers) and has decided to return to patrol in January of 2023.

Thomas recently celebrated 14 years of marriage with his wife, with whom he has a 9 year old daughter and a mini golden doodle puppy. He is a voracious reader, a die-hard DFW sports fan, enjoys fishing and guns, and he can almost certainly beat you at ping pong.