The Early Years: Loving the Job, Losing Friends & What Needs to Change

The early years were filled with good friends, hard work, and a genuine love for the job. Working in a dangerous city meant being proactive, staying alert, and showing up every day ready to do the work.

But there was one conversation that rarely happened: mental health.

In this episode, we talk about the culture of staying quiet, the stigma around admitting you’re struggling, and the devastating loss of a friend to suicide. From an officer’s perspective, we discuss what needs to change—from having better support among colleagues and friends to agencies providing meaningful mental health care and resources.

Because asking for help shouldn’t be seen as weakness, and no one should have to wait until they’re in crisis to reach for it.

Sometimes the first step is simply saying, “I’m not okay.”