Send us a text

Detective Sergeant Thaddeus Kramer's life changes after a justified shooting during a domestic violence call, revealing the hidden mental health challenges that often follow critical incidents in policing. His journey from hypervigilance and PTSD to recovery offers a roadmap for officers struggling with similar experiences.

• Signs of trauma manifest in subtle ways: arriving exactly on time instead of early, withdrawal from colleagues, compulsively checking weapons
• Lieutenant Saskia Brennan notices these changes and directs Thad to department psychologist Dr. Cordelia Voss
• Dr. Voss teaches Thad tactical breathing techniques framed as "operational effectiveness" rather than therapy
• Hypervigilance, sleep disturbances, and flashbacks are recognized as normal responses to abnormal situations
• Thad's breakthrough comes when he uses his recovery tools to not only manage his own trauma but also de-escalate a suspect
• Recovery isn't presented as a destination but as an ongoing process of building resilience
• The story demonstrates how personal healing directly improves policing effectiveness and public safety

We're actively seeking law enforcement officers willing to share their experiences of trauma and recovery. Your story could be the one that reaches another officer in their darkest moment. Visit the link in our show notes to start the process of sharing your story. Your voice could save a career, your story could save a life, because in this job we've got each other's backs, even in the aftermath.

Support the show