April 2025. Blues Vol 41 No.4

FROM THE

FROM THE EDITOR-AT-LARGEDoes Anyone Care?Have you ever thought “Whydoesn’t anyone care about us?”Like the public; public officials;Supervisors; or Command Staff?Have you ever felt completelyabandoned by everyone? Eventhose you work with. And there’sno one to talk to, not even yourfamily. Because the last thing youwant to do is let anyone knowyou’re feeling like this.Well, you’re not alone. No, you’renot.Hear me out…Every Cop, if beingtotally honest would convey atsome point in time in their career,has felt extremely isolated,tired and unable to talk to anyoneabout the wave of human tragedythey’ve seen, smelled, felt and arestruggling to endure. Especiallyif they’ve worked nights in a highcall volume, high violent crimearea for any period at all.Any supervisor or administratorwho remembers where they camefrom and tried to do their best toensure the personnel under theircommand are well taken care, hashad moments of pause and reflectionin reference to “Have I doneenough?” “What else can I (we) dohere?” and most significantly “Howcould I have failed them like this?”Seriously, any supervisor oradministrator worth their salt,has had moments where they feltcompletely isolated and abandonedby everyone. They can’t turnto their employees. They can’t turnto their supervisors or governingbodies. They can’t turn to anyone8 The BLUES - APRIL ‘25because quite frankly, they’ll beconsidered unfit to full fill theirduties as a supervisor. Much likeany officer who does reach out forhelp.It's a terrible, vicious cycle. Onewhich we as a profession muststart to mitigate. In as much as itpains me (grinning a little here)the Fire Service is WAY ahead ofLaw Enforcement on this subject.In the Fire Service, you make atraumatic call, you’re going todebrief afterwards. You’re going tohave someone to listen to you andif necessary, they have first respondermental health professionalswho won’t judge you, won’tridicule you, they just listen, helpand heal. And the most significantand important component here, isthere’s NO JUDGMENT.In law enforcement, this just isn’tthe case. If a peace officer turns toa mental health professional forassistance, we (collectively-ourprofession) turn upon them likethey’re no longer a part of “us.”Which in and of itself, is an abomination.A complete travesty on ourpart. One we must all agree, we’vegot to change. We must change.We are dying by the numbers. Andthose numbers translate into people.Our people. And that is unacceptable.All of this being said, I do nothave all the answers. I don’t holdsome magic wand that can solveour problems. But I have beenaround for decades. Been a supervisorand a chief and I will readilyadmit we have a problem. A seriousone. And as a profession wemust come together, put all theBS aside, put all the politics aside,and work with fever pitch tenacitytowards creating viable, healthydecisions and options for anyonein our profession who is hurting.To shun our own, is not an answer.It’s, an escape route. Nothingmore. Unfortunately, this is a problemwe can not continue to escapefrom. We have to face it headon. I know enough to know that.Without hesitation or reservation,I know with all my heart, we mustface this epidemic.Lastly, to all my Brothers and Sisters,no one is coming to save us.They’re not. You’re kidding yourselfif you think someone is comingto solve this tragedy for us. Withthat, I digress to the old saying“If not me, then who?” It startswith me. I’m here, I stand ready toserve. Ready to do whatever I canfor another cop who’s hurting. “If Ican stop one heart from breaking,I shall not have lived in vain…” –Emily Dickinson

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