Buffie Verhagen has proudly served in the law enforcement profession for 33 years. She is one of few Behavioral Health Response Officers who assisted in the formation of the Behavioral Health Unit for a large municipal police department in the DFW Metroplex. She has been with her current department for 13 years with 9 years in patrol operations. She holds a Master Peace Officer certification, is a TCOLE instructor and a member of the Association of Threat Assessment Professionals. She collaborates with the local mental health authority and community partners, bringing resources to vulnerable citizens. She continues to educate fellow officers, from recruits to seasoned officers, on engaging citizens with behavioral health challenges as well as safely handling dynamic, complex interactions. 

Buffie served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in the Security Forces career field. She gained invaluable experiences from years of duty in Central America, the Middle East as well as multiple installations stateside. She is a two-time combat veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom in addition to managing mission critical programs such as the Military Working Dog and Standardization and Evaluation sections. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Education from Wayland Baptist University and a Master of Arts in criminal justice from American Military University