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A Couple of Questions: Why is the phrase, ‘I’m just a dispatcher” still used? When will dispatchers finally accept that they are first responders? Over 18 years ago I was tasked to write an article; an extremely unfamiliar and uncomfortable task required to complete a year long process of becoming a master instructor for California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). This was not a task I took lightly for two reasons: Being published scared the living crap out of me,

Mental health disorders and addiction are some of the most pressing issues facing the public health system today. Some people are at a greater risk of developing these conditions than others, such as individuals who are exposed to traumatic events. This includes first responders; the first people to show up at the scene of a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or serious crime. Most people cannot fathom what first responders see on a daily basis, therefore it’s common for fir

My entire adult life was spent as a United States federal agent confronting violence and predators on behalf of the good and innocent people in the communities I served; people who simply wanted to live their lives peacefully and safely. I wanted to stand up for those who couldn’t or wouldn’t do that for themselves. My fourth day on the job I was shot by a suspect. The bullet entered my back, traveled through my lung missing my heart by millimeters and exited my chest. I h