Bill moved to Las Vegas from Scranton, Pennsylvania after being offered employment with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.  He began his career in January of 2002.  Bill worked as a patrol officer in DTAC for 5 years and a motor officer in traffic for 8 years.  Bill has always been drawn towards caring for others having worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse for 12 years prior to Metro and continues to maintain his professional license.  Bill’s experience with the Police Employee Assistance Program following his own officer involved shooting in 2011 sparked his passion and desire to give back to others the support he received from PEAP. Bill was appointed to the Police Employee Assistance Program in May of 2015 and subsequently promoted to PEAP Manager in March of 2017.

Trudy Gilbert-Eliot, PhD, LMFT, LCADC

Trudy Gilbert-Eliot is a consultant and mental health practitioner in Las Vegas, Nevada. Born into the military (Navy), she has been educated primarily in California where she obtained an Associates of Art from Santa Rosa Junior College, a Bachelors of Arts from California State University, Sonoma, and a Master’s of Science from California State University, Chico. After serving the required internships she became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist as well as a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. She also obtained a PhD in General Psychology from Capella University in Minnesota.

During her career she has worked in many settings: with the military as the 152nd Wing Director of Psychological Health where she wrote many briefings used with military members throughout the United States; at a counseling center for low income families; with women fleeing domestic battery; at a clinic that served women who had been raped, molested, or domestically battered; at a locked psychiatric hospital; on a drug and alcohol detox unit and a 30-day drug and alcohol treatment center; at a long-term residential treatment facility for children and adolescents; in private practice; in a jail working with inmates recently charged with domestic battery; at a boys group home; at an outpatient clinic serving children and adolescents; and most recently as a consultant to treatment centers in Nevada and with Las Vegas Metro Police Department. Currently her private practice centers on treating First Responders and their families. Her book, “Healing Secondary Trauma”, was released May 2020. In 2021 she was featured on a podcast for First Responders funded by a grant from FEMA via University of Nevada Reno, CASAT.

She has served as an expert witness for psychiatric court commitments, provided assessments in Emergency Room’s for those who recently attempted suicide, worked as a pediatric therapist in residential treatment, as Director of Admissions for a psychiatric facility, Director of Therapeutic Services for an outpatient clinic, and worked as an Adjunct Professor of Psychology. She has written several treatment programs for day treatment and Intensive Outpatient services. She is a Nationally Certified Critical Incident responder to local businesses who have experienced trauma as well as an internship supervisor for Marriage and Family Therapy interns and Drug and Alcohol Counseling interns.

In the course of her work she has spoken at various conferences and as a workshop presenter on such topics as Critical Incident Response in Mental Health, Trauma-informed Care, Co-occurring Disorders in Treatment, Advanced Clinical Supervision, ASAM, Working with the Military in Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Burnout/Compassion Fatigue/Secondary Trauma for First Responders, Clinical Applications in Trauma, PTSD, and a presentation as part of the recertification of CIT personnel for LVMPD.

Dr. Gilbert-Eliot has trained extensively in Trauma and is EMDR certified. She has also trained with the Gottmans in couples therapy and in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy with Behavioral Tech Research (Marsha Linehan, Ph.D.) and Alan Fruzetti, Ph.D. She is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and the American Psychological Association.

Harry Fagel is a celebrated poet and writer who has called Nevada his home for over 55 years. As a Native Nevadan, he has deep roots in the community and draws inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of the region. With a passion for poetry that spans decades, Harry has written three books of poetry that have earned critical acclaim. His first book, “Street Talk,” was published by Zeitgeist Press, followed by “Undercover,” which earned him a prestigious Hildebrandt Grant at the University of Nevada Reno. His third publication, “Skin and Bones,” was a Chapbook release. Harry’s poetry is known for its raw, honest, and evocative style, touching on themes of identity, humanity, and the human experience. In addition to his books, Harry has also made significant contributions to the music industry. He is credited with the album “Wordmurder,” produced by Shampoo Records, which features renowned saxophonist Tommy Marth and was released in 2009. His unique blend of poetry and music creates a captivating artistic expression that resonates with audiences. Beyond his published works, Harry has also written numerous eulogies, tributes, and commissioned pieces, showcasing his versatility as a wordsmith. His poetry has been featured in various anthologies, further cementing his reputation as a prolific and accomplished poet.

Harry Fagel, spent 25 years as a police officer with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. As a decorated veteran of the department, responsible for the safety of the entire community, he not only performed his regular police duties, he also spent time using his skills as a poet to honor fallen officers and recognize bravery and tenacity in the profession. Above all, Harry treasures his family, which holds a special place in his heart. His love for his family fuels his creative endeavors and gives him a sense of purpose in his writing. Harry continues to captivate readers and listeners alike with his powerful poetry, leaving an indelible mark on the literary and artistic landscape of Nevada and beyond.

Sergeant Smaka is an eight-year veteran of law enforcement and holds a Bachelor of Science in Education Degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a Master of Curriculum and Instruction Degree from Touro University.

During his career he has been involved in several critical incidents ranging from fatal vehicle crashes, officer involved shootings, line of duty deaths of fellow state Troopers, and suicidal subject calls. Sergeant Smaka was also one of the fist responders on scene during the Route 91 Harvest Festival tragedy that occurred on October 1st, 2017. For four years Sergeant Smaka served as the Public Information and Education Officer for the Nevada State Police in Southern Nevada and co-host for Trooper Talk on Channel 13 KTNV. Sergeant Smaka is currently a first line supervisor over Graveyard Urban Traffic Operations in Las Vegas.

Besides his experience as a State Trooper with the Nevada Highway Patrol, Sergeant Smaka an Instructor for the Nevada State Police. Currently he is an instructor of several law enforcement disciplines including: MACTAC (Multi-Assault Counter Terrorism Actions and Capabilities), ALERRT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training) teaching active assailant response techniques to local and state law enforcement officers in Southern Nevada. Sergeant Smaka is also a Nevada State Police Defensive Tactics Instructor, Field Training Officer, Crisis Intervention Team member, and member of the Nevada State Police Honor Guard.

Sergeant Smaka has received several awards and commendations. Most notably being recognized for saving the life of Taylor Barr, one of the gunshot victims Sergeant Smaka Encountered while responding to the Active Assailant call on October 1st 2017. Sergeant Smaka Escorted a pickup truck fleeing the venue with several gunshot victims to UMC Trauma. Taylor had severe arterial and nerve damage and arrived at the hospital in time to undergo life-saving surgery due to Sergeant Smaka’s efforts that night.