01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, April 23, 2005

PROVIDENCE -- The families of Providence police officers and clerks are invited to the Public Safety Complex today for private counseling sessions on how to help their loved ones deal with the killing of Detective Sgt. James L. Allen.

The Family Day is arranged to help the relatives of officers and clerks recognize the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder. And, the families will also be able to talk about the impact of Allen's murder on their own lives.

"We're making a concerted effort not to leave those people out,"said Sgt. Michael Wheeler.

The event is confidential and closed to the media. Families are required to bring the identification of the officers or clerks.

The sessions are being held at the Public Safety Complex from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Informational debriefing sessions start at 10 a.m., and continue every two hours, in the auditorium. There will also be informal counseling available all day for anyone who would like to speak privately with someone.

The police are having an open house with refreshments on the atrium floors. The sessions are not appropriate for children under 10, but volunteers will host activities and watch children while the adults are speaking with peer-support officers.

Some post-traumatic disorder signs include sleeplessness, exhaustion, inability to focus and nausea, Wheeler said.