I wanted to be a police officer since I was a little kid, and that is what I became. Training was intense, but the reality is that none of the training in the academy, nor on the street prepared me, or my fellow officers for the stress and anguish of dealing with the violence and crime.
During my 28 years as a police officer in the 4th largest city in the nation, I was blessed to become involved in crisis intervention and eventually to work in the departments mental health unit. It became important to me to help educate my fellow officers about PTSD and the negative effects that denial, and stigma was having on the thin blue line. We lost as many, or more, to suicide and alcoholism as we did to violent actions by criminals during my career.
After retiring, I used my training as a Chaplain to try to continue to help fellow officers. Finding Warriors Heart right down the road from my new home was a calling for me. Helping not only officers, but firefighters, paramedics and military veterans as their Chaplain has been incredible. Forgiveness both for, and of oneself is possible, and it is my joy to help these men and women find it.
