CPSL/T Contributors

Javier & Cathy Bustos

That Peer Support Couple

That Peer Support Couple, Cathy and Javier Bustos, are certified in Law Enforcement Peer Support. Throughout their careers they have experienced many critical incidents separately and together. On August 18th, 2010 they experienced the trauma of a line of duty death for a fellow officer and friend at Cathy’s police department in Cedar Park, TX. A month later on September 25th, 2010, Javier was in an Officer Involved Shooting in Austin, TX. Cathy & Javier were thrust into a new and changed world. They had to adjust their lives for the “new normal”. It is important officers get help in the early days after a critical incident. The days of the macho “shaking it off” are in the past.

With four decades of law enforcement experience Cathy and Javier's mission is to help other officers and their families deal with the stress of critical incidents. They serve as Peer Support Team members at the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX for quarterly Post Critical Incident Seminars. They volunteer at National Police Week in Washington, DC  as Support Services. They serve as Wellness Support for Survivors of Blue Suicide. They act as Wellness Services for Texas Fraternal Order of Police Hill Country Lodge #23 and the Texas Fraternal Order of Police.

Cathy is an instructor for Warrior's Rest Foundation. She is an International Critical Incident Stress Foundation approved and certified Group Crisis and Assisting Individuals in Crisis instructor. She's also a certified trainer on the topic of Law Enforcement Suicide.

Cathy and Javier are certified Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Instructors. They write articles for law enforcement publications. They appeared in the documentary "Officer Involved"

In addition to telling their own personal story Cathy and Javier have specific topics they wish to stress upon the First Responder community:

Building Family Bonds, Career Survival, Dealing with Trauma, Leadership in Times of Crisis, Mindfulness, Officer Involved Shootings, Resiliency, Self Care, Stress Management, Suicide Education & Prevention, Wellness

You can find them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube
www.cathyandjavi.com