About Our Team
Public Safety Psychologists, LLC (PSP) is a team of licensed, certified professionals with an average 25+ years experience. We are First Responder specialists, focused on merging scientific advances with the “people side” of Public Safety. Founded in 1990 under the name WorkSmart Consultants, our company has evaluated, coached, and trained thousands of Public Safety professionals, from small, rural to large, metropolitan Police, Fire, and EMS Departments.
Dr. Kurt Jensen has worked with Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS, and Military professionals since 1991. A licensed psychologist and certified executive coach, Dr. Jensen has performed thousands of pre-employment, FFD, and RTW assessments for Public Safety agencies. A past President of the Cleveland Psychological Association and Board Member of the Ohio Psychological Association, he is a member of the IACP, OACP, OFCA, and CCPCA, among other First Responder organizations. Dr. Jensen’s career path has been strongly influenced by his volunteer experience with the American Red Cross, where he served as the Cleveland Chapter’s Coordinator of Behavioral Health for 15 years. Dr. Jensen has worked closely with First Responders following disasters throughout the U.S., including New York City after 9/11; he worked part-time with Ohio Homeland Security for several years thereafter. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his two daughters, vacuuming hotel lobbies, and herding feral cats. For additional background information, please click here to request a copy of his vita.
Dr. LaMaurice Gardner is a Reserve/Lt. Deputy for the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and a fully licensed psychologist. He is the Department Psychologist for the Detroit Police Department, Michigan State Police, and several local Departments in the area; an adjunct faculty member at the Oakland Police Academy, Macomb Police Academy, and Law Enforcement Officers Regional Training Commission; and a Consulting Psychologist for the FBI Joint Terrorist Task Force in Detroit. Dr. Gardner is an experienced crisis/hostage negotiator, tactical officer, and Public Safety consultant in numerous spheres. His areas of clinical expertise include suicide intervention, PTSD, CISD/M, substance abuse, and school/workplace violence. He has lectured on numerous occasions to law enforcement agencies throughout the country and at international forums, including the IACP. Dr. Gardner enjoys a wide variety of leisure-time pursuits, though his professional life is guided by a primary objective: "To serve and protect those who serve and protect." For additional background information, please click here to request a copy of his vita.
Dr. Michelle Sheets is a clinical and consulting psychologist specializing in the science-based evaluation and treatment of Public Safety, medical, and other healthcare professionals. Dr. Sheets earned her doctorate in 2009; she initially worked with First Responders during her graduate training, conducting research as part of the U.S. Army’s STARS project, focused on the assessment and prevention of soldier trauma and suicide. Since that time, she has treated, assessed, and coached thousands of clients, from Public Safety workers with stress reactions to C-Suite professionals working on leadership skills. An award-winning psychologist and frequent presenter at professional conferences, Dr. Sheets has performed hundreds of Police, EMT, and other First Responder assessments through her Newark, Ohio office. Her time-off activities include cycling, hot yoga, spending time with her twins, and taming the family's two cats. For additional background information, please click here to request a copy of her vita.
Dr. Cheryl Wills is a board-certified psychiatrist who has worked with Law Enforcement, Fire, and other First Responder professionals for 20+ years. She is a risk management expert and has conducted hundreds of FFD, RTW, FMLA, and disability evaluations. Dr. Wills is an expert in violence risk assessment, school/workplace violence prevention, suicide prevention, stress management, and trauma-informed interventions. She has consulted with the Department of Justice, law enforcement agencies, First Responders, attorneys and judges. Dr. Wills has coauthored treatment guidelines on alcohol use disorder and other psychiatric conditions, and lectures internationally about forensic mental health issues, trauma, correctional psychiatry, and interdisciplinary collaboration with law enforcement. She has been recognized with numerous awards for her professional accomplishments, most recently a Distinguished Service Award from the American Academy of Psychiatry (2024). For additional background information, please click here to request a copy of her vita.
Partner with PSP's team of psychologists, coaches, and consultants to get:
Research-proven, world-class selection and leadership assessment tools (e.g., EQi-2.0, Hogan, Harrison, PXT Select, DISC, Checkpoint 360)
Fitness-for-Duty and Return-to-Work Evaluations, Wellness Checks, and Health-and-Wellness Programs customized to the personal and professional needs of your Department.
Department-tailored Leadership Programs to identify and develop emerging, high-potential managers.
Team-Building and Conflict-Resolution Programs to shortcircuit problems with trust, communication, and accountability.
Focused evaluations and interventions for employees exhibiting problems with addiction, anger management, burnout, and other work-performance issues.
Same-day crisis management services following OIS, homicides, rape, assaults, or other traumatic events.