She pledged to protect and serve the Dallas community.For more than 20 years, Diana Mathis-Thornton assisted patrols in southeast Dallas.
Mathis-Thornton later took an interest in counseling and returned to school to pursue a master’s degree.
“Suddenly my path started to change. I realized it was my second calling,” said Mathis-Thornton. “I didn’t know you could do counseling without a counseling license. I was just who I was.
As a peer support coordinator, she answered calls for help from blue brothers and sisters. She also helped launch a wellness unit to address the mental health of police officers who have responded to murders, fatal accidents, and other traumatic incidents through her counseling.
“I coordinate, advise, train, and provide swearing-in and civilian mental health guidance for approximately 100 peer supporters and checkpoint officers of all ranks,” Matis-Thornton said. “Together with peer supporters and checkpoint officers, I provide confidential peer support assistance to all Dallas Police Department employees.”
Some of the calls, which could come at any time of the day or night, were difficult.
“I had some suicidal cops and I spent three or four hours on the phone helping them until they got out of the dark,” Matis-Thornton said.
After more than 31 years of service, Matis-Thornton retired from his role with the Dallas Police Department.
Family, friends, doctors, government leaders and officials congratulated Mattis-Thornton on Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking at the celebration, a Dallas police sergeant said he had big shoes to fill, but Mattis Thornton is dedicated to serving the police as a licensed therapist.
“They are my clients and I can actually work with them on a deeper level to help them find health and address their problems and issues.
