Mental health and wellness are increasingly important in our communities today, and Reserve Deputy Dr. Megan Wade has the advanced skills in mental health and experience in the critical police training needed to tackle these issues. 

Dr. Wade has a doctoral degree in clinical psychology; after attending the Oakland County Reserve Police Academy, she was sworn in as a reserve deputy in 2021. She has attended several advanced training classes for crisis, stress, and mental health for both psychology in general and specific to law enforcement.   

In her first years as a licensed police psychologist, Dr. Wade has responded to multiple crisis situations, including two mass shootings (at a high school and university), a murder-suicide incident, and a line-of-duty death, among others. In each of these situations, she has had to assist in making death notifications, coordinating family reunifications, and conducting stress/safety debriefs for responders and officials at crime scenes, as well as dispatchers.  

Dr. Wade also assists the hostage/crisis negotiations team and works road patrol and special events for the agency. In addition to her work with the sheriff’s office, she has collaborated with other first responders and experts at the Detroit, Michigan, Police Department and the International Association of Firefighters.   

Serving as a reserve deputy has given Dr. Wade another level of credibility in getting buy-in from her law enforcement clients and all those she interacts with. Taking a boots-on-the-ground approach has given her more field experience in just two years that some providers see in an entire career.  

“If I want to help bring about change to a system, I need to be fully involved in it instead of talking from the safety of my office.”