Shield of Armor Wellness Conference

03/11/2026

Behind every strong first responder is a strong support system.

We are incredibly grateful to have Jennifer Jarrett and Sunflower Therapy, LLC joining the Shield of Armor Wellness Conference as an Officer Sponsor.

Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in trauma therapy, with a strong focus on serving first responders, military members, and their families. Through therapies such as EMDR and other somatic approaches, she helps those who serve others process the difficult experiences that can come with the job.

Her work supporting the first responder community has also led her to become an approved provider with the Missouri Crisis Intervention Team First Responder Provider Network, the National Volunteer Fire Council, and the Code Green Campaign. In addition to counseling, Jennifer provides mental wellness workshops and POST-approved training designed to help agencies strengthen their mental health support for personnel.

Support from professionals like Jennifer helps ensure our first responders have access to the tools and resources they need to stay mentally strong while continuing to serve our communities.

Thank you, Jennifer, for standing behind those who stand on the front lines every day.
https://www.jenniferjarrettlcsw.com/

03/05/2026

We’re excited to announce that Cape Girardeau Honda wanted in on the action for the Shield of Armor Wellness Conference!

As we all know, a clean car can take a little stress off our day — and sometimes it’s the small things that make a big difference.

Rob Petzoldt generously donated a Wash & Shine Kit along with three free oil changes to be given away to our first responders at this year’s conference.

We truly appreciate community partners like Cape Girardeau Honda who recognize the importance of supporting the men and women who serve. Thank you for helping us take care of those who take care of our community!

03/04/2026

We are proud to announce that Jody Petzoldt, a long-time supporter of our first responders and now owner of Integrity Counseling, LLC has joined the Shield of Armor Wellness Conference as a Sergeant Level Sponsor.

Jody has consistently demonstrated a heart for serving those who serve others, providing critical mental health support to law enforcement, first responders, and their families. Her continued commitment to first responder wellness makes a meaningful impact in our community.

We are incredibly grateful for her partnership and her investment in the emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing of our public safety professionals.

Thank you, Jody, for standing beside those who stand on the front lines every day.

02/16/2026

Understanding Hypervigilance

In emergency work, some brains are always scanning. They track movement, tone, risk, and outcomes even when nothing urgent is happening. In psychology, this is called hypervigilance. For first responders, it is not overthinking, and it is not a choice. It is a trained brain state.

Hypervigilance develops in environments where danger is unpredictable and consequences are high. These are the exact conditions of police, fire, EMS, corrections, and dispatch work. Your brain learned to stay alert because staying alert kept people alive. That constant readiness allowed faster threat detection, rapid decision-making, and emotional control under pressure.

Research shows this keeps the nervous system in a heightened state of awareness. The brain automatically scans for changes in behavior, tone, body language, or scene dynamics. This is why many first responders are exceptionally good at reading situations, anticipating problems, and managing complex, fast-moving scenarios.

The difficulty comes when hypervigilance is misunderstood or never turned off. It is often mislabeled as anxiety, irritability, or negativity. In reality, it is survival-based intelligence. However, when the brain never learns to stand down, mental fatigue, sleep disruption, and stress can follow.

Healing does not mean shutting the brain off or becoming less capable. It means teaching the nervous system when it is safe to rest. Consistency, grounding, quality sleep, a trusted connection, and trauma-informed support help recalibrate this response.

Hypervigilance is not a flaw.
It is an adaptation shaped by the job.

When understood and regulated, it becomes a strength without costing you your health.

02/12/2026

Cotner Electric Co., Inc. not only supports all of your electrical needs, they are also huge supporters of our first responders.

They have been long-time partners of the Shield of Armor Conference and have once again joined us for 2026!

Thank you, Cotner Electric Co., Inc., for your continued commitment, generosity, and unwavering support over the years. We truly appreciate everything you do for our first responder community!

02/10/2026

Montgomery Bank has stepped up once again this year as an Assistant Chief–level sponsor for the Shield of Armor Wellness Conference! 🎉

Montgomery Bank has been with us since the very beginning, and we are incredibly grateful for their continued commitment to this conference and their unwavering support of our first responders. Their partnership plays a vital role in helping us provide meaningful wellness resources to those who serve our community every day.

Thank you, Montgomery Bank, for standing with our first responders and for being such a valued partner!

02/02/2026

If the top-notch speakers or the incredible food doesn’t do it for you, maybe the chance to win some awesome products will!

Huge shoutout to LA Police Gear for sending us some great gear to give away at the conference. We appreciate your support!

01/30/2026

This is a great reminder for all of us—especially our first responders and their families.

Progress isn’t about perfection, it’s about persistence… and having the right support.

That’s why we’re proud to have First State Community Bank as a sponsor of the Shield of Armor Wellness Conference

How are those resolutions holding up? 🌟Whether you’re powering through or facing a few bumps, remember: progress isn’t about perfection, it’s about persistence.

Here are five ways to stay motivated and on track:
1️⃣ Set goals that feel realistic (no need to do it all at once)
2️⃣ Break big dreams into smaller, doable steps
3️⃣ Find a buddy to keep you accountable and cheer you on
4️⃣ Celebrate every small win
5️⃣ Stay flexible and positive, because life happens

Keep moving forward!

01/29/2026

𝐃𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 SEMO Fleet Sales

They joined us as a partner in 2025 and are continuing their commitment into 2026, helping support the mission of the Shield of Armor Wellness Conference.

We’re proud to stand alongside sponsors like SEMO Fleet Sales and all of our incredible partners who invest in the wellness of first responders.

01/15/2026

We are proud to welcome back First State Community Bank as a partner for the 2026 Shield of Armor Wellness Conference.

Their long-standing commitment to giving back to those who serve continues to make a meaningful impact in our community.

01/02/2026

The numbers don’t lie. Help spread the word to get others involved to get these numbers down. Join us in April for a wonderful opportunity to network and learn new strategies that may work for your department. All first responders and their families are invited to attend. Let’s get the number to zero!

For 2025, both The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP) and First Help are reporting lower-than-usual line-of-duty deaths and su***des among law enforcement. When it comes to su***des, we can only report what we can find and what has been reported directly to us. We are aware that these numbers are likely underreported, and we strongly encourage anyone with information to share what they know. (https://1sthelp.org/submit-a-first-responder/)

Despite lower overall numbers, su***de continues to outpace all other types of line-of-duty deaths.

As we enter 2026, many of the same challenges persist. Line-of-duty death cases are often reported quickly and require far less vetting than su***des. Even though su***des can now be considered line-of-duty deaths if they meet statutory criteria, and many have been granted LODD designation by the federal government, they are still absent from official LODD statistics and not recognized at the same level as other causes.

The designation process itself often retraumatizes families. It places an extraordinary burden of proof on loved ones, requiring detailed information about a career they may not fully have access to. Meanwhile, other non-felonious causes — such as heart attacks and single automobile crashes — are frequently granted LODD status without the same level of scrutiny.

In 2026, we hope to see more hearts and minds open to the reality that the job does contribute to su***de. In many cases, it is not just a factor — it is the catalyst.

EDIT: Graphic has been updated as more su***des were reported to us for 2025

12/31/2025

With heavy hearts, we mourn the loss of Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting of the Washington State Patrol, Washington, who was tragically killed in the line of duty.

End of Watch: Friday, December 19, 2025

Trooper Tara-Marysa Guting was struck and killed while investigating the scene of a two-vehicle crash on State Route 509 south of the Port of Tacoma.

Before 7:30 p.m., Trooper Guting was standing outside of her patrol car on the southbound lanes of State Route 509 near milepost 2 when a vehicle hit her. Despite bystanders performing life-saving measures, she succumbed to her injuries.

Trooper Guting was an Army National Guard veteran and had served with the Washington State Patrol for more than 1 year, assigned to District 1. She is survived by her husband

Source: ODMP, (The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc)