Dell Hackett - Biographical Sketch

In September 2001, after 28 years of law enforcement service, Dell Hackett honorably retired as a lieutenant with the Lane County Sheriff's Office in Eugene, Oregon. He is currently President of The Law Enforcement Wellness Association; a training and consulting organization dedicated to the physical and psychological health of our nation's law enforcement personnel. His final law enforcement assignments included command responsibility for the department's special operations and training sections. While the commander of the Special Operations Section, Lt. Hackett managed the departments SWAT, Air Operations, Search and Rescue, and Emergency Services Units. Past assignments include uniform patrol operations and supervision, the criminal investigations unit, and uniform patrol watch command responsibilities. Dell has over eight years of experience with his department's special weapons and tactics (SWAT) unit. He held SWAT positions ranging from team operator to team commander. Lt. Hackett participated in numerous SWAT engagements and assignments over the years including high risk warrant services, barricade situations, and nationally prominent dignitary protection details. Over the years he has trained and worked closely with members of the United States Armed Forces Counter Drug Teams, The United States Secret Service, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Special Weapons Team.

Dell Hackett's Bachelor of Arts degree in Management was awarded Cum Laude from Northwest Christian College in Eugene, Oregon. He was also presented with the colleges Outstanding Management Project Award and the coveted Distinguished Achievement Award for outstanding leadership and scholarship. His past law enforcement instructor certifications include both firearms and police emergency vehicle operations. His course offerings include Traumatic Incident Awareness for the Law Enforcement Supervisor, and Psychological Survival in Law Enforcement (a lieutenant level and above course). Dell is a board certified expert in traumatic stress and he maintains membership in the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and has been awarded Diplomate status within the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. He is also a Diplomate member of the American Board of Law Enforcement Experts. Lt. Hackett is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy, Session 182. He has also been certified as a Law Enforcement Physical Fitness Specialist and Personal Trainer by the Cooper Institute in Dallas, Texas. Lt. Hackett is one of three Master Trainers certified by the QPR Suicide Prevention Institute in Spokane, Washington.

Dell formed and led his former departments peer support and critical incident stress de-briefing team. He has participated in, and led, numerous critical incident stress de-briefings relating to law enforcement traumatic incidents including officer involved shootings and multiple death incidents. He has over 60 hours of advanced training provided by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation including both the basic and advanced critical incident stress management courses. Dell worked closely with his former departments psychological services program (EAP) and received his departments Meritorious Service Award for the formation and participation in the highly successful Peer Support Unit. Lt. Hackett commanded the Lane County Sheriff's Air Operations unit during the disastrous Willamette Valley Floods of 1996. He was also one of the initial Sheriff's command officers on scene during the tragic Thurston High School Shootings in 1998.

Lt. Hackett is a requested trainer and presenter for law enforcement and civilian groups from across the nation. His candid and educational presentations continue to receive outstanding reviews. Dell has been a requested presenter for the FBI in Quantico, Virginia, The United States Attorney's Office in both Phoenix, Arizona and Tampa, Florida and The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) at two of their annual international training conferences. The United States Department of Justice presented him with an award for his key note address on behalf of the Law Enforcement Coordinating Program in Phoenix, Arizona. He has authored published articles and chapters on police air operations, law enforcement psychological services and peer support, law enforcement suicide prevention, and SWAT related topics. He has most recently, along with Dr. John Violanti, co-authored the book, "Police Suicide: Tactics for Prevention and Intervention." Lt. Hackett is a current faculty member at the Oregon Police Academy and continues to train law enforcement peer support teams around the nation.