Trauma's Impact on Police Officers

Police officers are much more likely to die by suicide than they are to be killed in the line of duty - however, that isn’t the common understanding. While society works hard to prevent law enforcement fatalities, mental health and suicide often remain overlooked. Why is that? Today’s guest, a 13-year law enforcement veteran, shares his story of being involved in a fatal shooting and how that experience led him to have untreated PTSD for years. Eventually, it got to the point where he almost ended his life. Constable Jefferson shares how he was able to move past that, and how he believes law enforcement could better protect him and his fellow officers.
Guest Information for 'Police Officer Trauma' Podcast Episode James Jefferson is a 13-year police service veteran and the wellness coordinator officer with the Greater Sudbury Police Service. Jefferson specializes in mental health, peer to peer support, and member outreach, along with physical fitness and nutrition.
After working assignments in uniform patrol and the drug enforcement unit; being involved in a fatal shooting and working undercover; Jefferson endured the fallout of PTSD. After years of surviving, he made the decision to thrive and use his experiences to gain
perspective on life and fight to overcome post-traumatic stress. Jefferson has transformed his trauma into purpose in educating and inspiring others to persevere and overcome the challenges that embody the responsibility and psychological hardships of wearing the badge.
Jefferson graduated from Laurentian University with a BA in Law & Justice & Psychology. He’s a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach as well as a public speaker and mental health advocate. He can be reached via email at [e-mail] and on Instagram. About the Inside Mental Health Podcast Host
Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.

[@BreckoniousMaximus]

Constable Jefferson, I feel your pain brother. I did two combat tours in Iraq and have been in Law Enforcement for the last 24 years, primarily as a Sheriff's Deputy working patrol in the pacific northwest. From my experience, I find the cumulative PTSD of police work to be worse than war-time PTSD. The main difference is the trauma never stops in police work, it's like the incoming tide on Hawaii's north shore, wave after wave, relentlessly pounding against you until you are ultimately destroyed. Destroyed mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. There is no escaping this if one makes a career out of law enforcement, specifically working on patrol or the front lines.
Gabe,
That you for making this podcast and actually speaking to a real police officer. I often think...if the public actually knew how we felt and what we think....it would terrify them. But, cops don't have their freedom of speech, we work in a totalitarian organization that has total (pun intended) control over you while at work and at home. The only way for the public to find out, is if we retain our anonymity during an interview.