This month, members of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office spoke with Spectrum News 1 to help highlight the importance of our partnership with Helping Horse Therapeutic Programs in Wendell.
This equine-assisted program allows our employees to work and connect with the horses to help de-stress after difficult or traumatic shifts.
“Officers will see approximately around 700 different critical incidents throughout their career, whereas an average person may see two to three. So, we train our officers to run into a crisis in how to handle a crisis,” Sgt. Mark Szajnberg said. “We don't train them necessarily how to process it after they're done with the critical event.”1
Helping Horse Therapeutic Programs offers a First Responder and Veterans Program and family and individual programs for those serving our community.
“We lose people to suicide all the time. It's such a prevalent issue in law enforcement and the military. And of course, regular day-to-day citizens. So, it's wonderful to have something that is an advocate and an outlet for that," Sheriff's Deputy Angelia Chastain said.1
To learn more about the program, visit helpinghorse.org.
To watch the full story on Spectrum News, visit tinyurl.com/yhzvuztc.
1spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2026/04/01/wake-county-sheriff-s-office-helping-horse
