Sergeant Chris Scallon retired as a 24+year veteran with the Norfolk Police Department, holds a Masters in Psychology, BS in Criminal Justice, and certified in Critical Incident Stress Management from the University of Maryland BC Emergency Health Services.
He is the Founder of Survival Mindset Training and Consulting and was the founder, and first Director, of the Norfolk Police Department’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) & Peer Support Unit, Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Co-Coordinator for the Norfolk Police Department. Sgt.
Scallon is a peer and current board member of Virginia Law Enforcement Assistance Program (VALEAP), a certified peer with the West Coast Post Trauma Retreat/First Responder Support Network. Having been involved in multiple shootings he is intimately familiar with trauma and the consequences of exposure.
Chris is an approved instructor for International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) teaching Basic and Advanced Assisting Individuals in Crisis and Group Crisis Intervention a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor (Adult/Veteran Modules) through the National Council for Behavioral Health, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran’s Association (IAVA), and a Master Trainer for Homefront Protective Group teaching across the country and abroad. As an international speaker/trainer, he is often sought out to provide services in the wake of significant critical incidents. Chris has worked with victims of numerous mass shootings (e.g., Pulse Night Club, Sandy Hook/Newtown, Virginia Tech, Virginia Beach…etc.)
Sgt. Scallon is currently a Training and Technical Assistance Consultant for the Office of Victims of Crimes (OVC TTAC). He is also on a team tasked with creating a nationally accepted CISM model with the IACP. Previously, a Vicarious Trauma Fellow with the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and Northeastern University working on a national grant from the U.S. Department of Justice-Office of Victims of Crimes, creating an evidence-based vicarious trauma toolkit for first responders (e.g. EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement, and Victim Advocates). He was recently selected to be the Chair person for the Peer Support portion of the National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide.
Chris is a U.S. Navy Veteran, served as a line officer in the Port Washington, NY Fire Department, Atlantic Hook & Ladder, Light and Heavy Rescue.
Chris was directly involved in multiple traumatic incidents within the aforementioned fire, military, and police agencies; in addition, to multiple deadly force encounters during his tenure as a police officer, both directly and indirectly. He has first-hand experience with the primary, secondary, and tertiary, effects of trauma related to personal and professional relationships.
Chris has received numerous awards to include the National Top Cop award (NAPO), Virginia’s Public Safety Medal of Valor (presented by Former Governor Tim Kaine), and the Norfolk Police Department’s Medal of Honor. He has received multiple certifications from the Nassau County Fire Service Academy in Long Island, NY.