Inside the Mental Health Crisis Facing Law Enforcement | NYSPIA President Kurt Labuda on Candid Minds

What happens when police officers become the first responders to mental health crises? Host and addiction psychiatrist Dr. Tamir Aldad (Dr. T) sits down with Kurt Labuda, President of the New York State Police Investigators Association and a 20-year state police and Army veteran, for a raw conversation about the realities officers face every day on the road. From domestic disputes and psychotic breaks to addiction, trauma, and community distrust, President Labuda shares what it’s really like responding to people in crisis while balancing safety, empathy, and limited mental health resources. The discussion explores the growing pressure placed on law enforcement to act as counselors, the emotional toll the job takes on officers, and why better collaboration between clinicians, EMS, and police could change outcomes for everyone involved. Together, Dr. T and President Labuda tackle the stigma around mental health in law enforcement, the alarming suicide statistics affecting officers, and the urgent need for better training, transparency, and support systems on both sides of the badge. This is an honest conversation about trauma, trust, crisis response, and the human side of policing.