First Responders

Criminal Justice

Why is it so hard for first responders to come forward and ask for help when they need it?

The Importance of Breaking Stigma for First Responders

Why is it so hard for first responders to come forward and ask for help when they need it? Amazing, amazing question. And this is a question that needs to put out more to the community. It is okay to come forward and ask for help. There's this old stereotype that, you know, if you come forward and if you're having issues at work, if something's bothering you, you know, you've lost the edge. You're weak. You're not supposed to show emotion. In law enforcement, we wear the body armor to protect us from external forces. Well, we also put up a shield to protect us from the trauma that we see, the negativity, just the horrible stuff in the world. The problem is a lot of times that body armor will come off, but that shield never comes off. You keep everything inside because you don't want to show that you're having a tough time with that call that you were just on or you're going through a tough time in your marriage or your family or your friends or just personal. And it's okay not to be okay. And we need to let our first responder community know that it's okay to say something. You want to talk to your brothers and sisters. Seek out what's the peer support group that your agency has. If they don't have one, reach out to another agency to see if they can refer you to somebody. There's a lot of places out there here on any question. There's a lot of great places that they can provide support. So that's what we're all about is breaking down that stigma, breaking down that wall of first responders can't ask for help. You can. It is okay. It doesn't make you weak. It doesn't make you any less of an officer. So my brothers and sisters out there, it's okay. Ask help if you need it.

It is ok for first responders to come forward and ask for help when they need it. There is a stigma that asking for help makes them weak, but this isn't true. There are many places where they can get the help they need and they should not be afraid to reach out.

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Why is it difficult for first responders to ask for help when they need it? This is an incredibly important question that deserves more attention within the community. There is an old stereotype that coming forward and seeking help means losing one's edge, appearing weak, or showing emotion. In fields like law enforcement, we wear body armor to protect ourselves from external forces, but we also develop a shield to protect us from the trauma, negativity, and the terrible things we witness in the world. Unfortunately, while the body armor may come off, the shield remains intact. We keep everything inside because we don't want to show that we're struggling with tough calls or personal challenges in our lives.

It's crucial to recognize that it is okay not to be okay. We must let our first responder community know that it is acceptable to ask for help. It's important to reach out to our fellow brothers and sisters and seek support from peer support groups within our agencies or even from other organizations if necessary. There are numerous places that provide support and guidance. Our goal should be breaking down the stigma and walls that suggest first responders cannot ask for help. Asking for help does not make you weak or any less of an officer.

To all my brothers and sisters out there, remember it is okay to ask for help when you need it.

What do you want people considering a career as a first responder to know?

Realities of a First Responder: Tough, Admirable, and Life-Changing

What do you want? People considering a career as a first responder to know, first and foremost, it's very admirable position. It's a big burden you're taking on your shoulders to scrap on that uniform. Be it a police officer, Corrections firefighter, whatever encompasses. Your first responder role on the law enforcement side. You know, it is, it's a very tough position. You're going to be working nights. It's weekends. You're going to miss birthdays anniversaries kids events, graduations, holidays. No be prepared that you know, your life is going to change both with what your schedule is. But also what you're going to see how people are going to interact with you. You're going to have to develop a little bit of a thick skin because you're going to see people at their worst. When something goes bad, that's when you're going to be called. And unfortunately, a lot of times, you may not be the person that they want to see. You could be yelled at spit at Beyond, you know, viral that this, you know, against law enforcement. So you have to develop a thick skin to that aspect of it. But you also have to realize you need to take care of your mental health and don't hold all that in. You need to be willing to talk to people be open but it's a great profession. And it's very admirable. If you're going to go down that road, I loved it. Especially at ATF, 26 years. Their our agency was not very liked by a lot of individuals, but I loved everything I did. And I think it's a great profession that you can get into and just read a lot about it into a lot of research on where you would like to go.

It is a very admirable position to take on the burden of being a first responder, but you have to be aware that it is a tough job. It involves working nights, weekends and holidays, and you will often encounter people at their worst. You must develop a thick skin and make sure to take care of your mental health. Despite the difficulties, it can be a rewarding career, and it is important to do research and make sure it is the right fit for you.

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For those considering a career as a first responder, there are a few important things to know. First and foremost, it is an admirable position that comes with a significant burden. Whether you become a police officer, firefighter, or work in corrections, being a first responder in law enforcement is tough. You will work nights, weekends, and miss important personal events like birthdays and holidays. Your schedule will change, and you must be prepared for that.

Additionally, as a first responder, you will witness people at their worst. When something goes wrong, you will be called to the scene, and sometimes, you may not be the person they want to see. You may face verbal abuse, spit at, or encounter negativity due to the current climate surrounding law enforcement. It's crucial to develop a thick skin to handle these situations. However, it's equally important to prioritize your mental health and not hold everything in. Be open and willing to talk to others about your experiences.

Despite the challenges, a career as a first responder is rewarding and admirable. I personally loved my 26 years at ATF, even though our agency wasn't always well-liked. It's a profession where you can make a difference. If you choose this path, do thorough research and learn as much as you can about the specific field you are interested in.

What do you see as the biggest threats to public safety in your community, and how do you address them?

Gun Violence: Biggest Threat to Public Safety in Communities

What do I see as the biggest threat to Public Safety in your community and how do you address them? I would say, the biggest threat I see is the prevalence of guns being used against not only law enforcement, but the community as a whole. I mean, seems you can't go a day without something news, reading about or seen something about somebody being shot and killed or so many innocent being shot and killed. I think that's a problem that is systemic in society. That if you have a beef with somebody, if there's a road rage incident or you were disrespected or in, you know, communities, somebody disrespected or, you know, cross the wrong line on a block that the first thing that individuals resort to is picking up a gun and going after them and far too often law, enforcement is caught in those cross fires. I think, as of today, there have been three 13:23 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty so far this year, way too high. So the threats of gun violence against our community as a whole and against our Law Enforcement Officers because we see unfortunately, all too often often officers being ambushed to get called out to a scene and they get ambushed and shot and killed. Just the tenant that that is acceptable and Prevalent is a major threat to Public Safety in the communities, so anything that we can do and that's what I try to do, is help agencies stem that gun violence, but not having it. Where the first thing that somebody thinks of if they've got an issue is picking up, that gun is the mindset that we need to change.

The biggest threat to public safety in my community is the prevalence of gun violence. I try to help agencies stem this by encouraging people to not resort to guns as their first response when faced with a problem.

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The biggest threat to public safety in my community, in my view, is the widespread use of guns, not only against law enforcement but also within the community. It's disheartening to see news reports or hear stories about people being shot and killed, including innocent individuals. This issue is deeply rooted in society, where disputes or conflicts often lead individuals to resort to picking up a gun as their first response. Unfortunately, law enforcement officers are also caught in the crossfire, resulting in a high number of officer fatalities.

Addressing the threat of gun violence is a top priority. We need to work towards changing the mindset that reaching for a gun is an acceptable solution when faced with an issue or conflict. As someone involved in public safety, I strive to support agencies in their efforts to combat gun violence and promote alternative approaches to conflict resolution. It is crucial to create an environment where picking up a gun is not the immediate response, and where the safety of both the community and law enforcement officers is prioritized.

How do you not become numb with your feelings over your career?

Finding Purpose Beyond Yourself: Navigating Career Emotions

How do you not become numb with your feelings over your career? I guess it depends on what you're actually doing in your career as relates to, for me, on the first responder side. I've always looked at it that no matter what I'm doing, I'm doing it for the greater good. I'm doing it to keep communities safe. I'm doing it to help people. I'm doing it to work with my local law enforcement agencies. At times, yes, it would get frustrating. It would get hard. I would feel stagnant. I would feel like I was out of place. But the biggest thing I would do is just try to take a step back and realize what I'm doing isn't about me, that it's about the communities I'm working in, the communities I'm serving, my fellow law enforcement agencies that I'm working with. It's all about what we do for the greater good to protect these communities. So basically a lot of this would be not internalizing the issues or what you're seeing or what you're doing or the confrontation, struggles, political BS, et cetera. Finding somebody that you can talk with is always key. Just don't internalize all of this and make sure that you're focusing on what's the overall goal that you're working towards.

To not become numb to feelings in your career, focus on the overall goal you are working towards, take a step back to reflect and find someone to talk with.

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To avoid becoming numb to your feelings over your career, it depends on the nature of your work. In my case, as a first responder, I always remind myself that what I do is for the greater good. I strive to keep communities safe, help people, and collaborate with local law enforcement agencies. While there are times when frustration, stagnation, or feeling out of place may arise, I take a step back and remember that my work is not about me. It's about serving the communities, working with fellow law enforcement agencies, and protecting those we serve.

One important strategy is to avoid internalizing the issues, confrontations, struggles, or political challenges that may arise. It's crucial to find someone you can talk to and share your experiences with. By not internalizing everything and focusing on the overall goal you are working towards, you can maintain a sense of purpose and prevent yourself from becoming numb to your feelings.

Can you describe a particularly complex emergency response situation that you had to manage, and how you handled it?

Managing a Complex Emergency: Negotiating a Barricaded Gunman in Chicago

Can you describe a particularly complex, emergency response situation that you had to manage and how you handled it. When I was with ATF in Chicago, we obtained, an arrest, warrant for an individual, for firearms violations. And we were going to go pick him up at his place of work. We figured, that would be the simplest way it immediately turned into a barricaded gunman situation. The individual was staying at a little apartment on the complex, we were trying to negotiate with him, he would not Not come out. We knew he had firearms in their ended up setting up a perimeter around the little building that he was in. What compounded, the situation? It was Chicago mid-February, extremely cold, we were not prepared for the weather to be out in the elements that long got with the local SWAT team. They were helping us out. We basically had to rotate individuals through because I had to watch for hypothermia. I had to make sure that my agents and the officers were Safe as well as the individual inside. Several hours went by and the local SWAT team wanted to make a dynamic entry and get this individual. I was adamantly against that I didn't want to put any officers In Harm's Way. I wanted to try to stay as long as we could to try to negotiate and bring this individual out. We tried several tactics, eventually, we were able to convince the individual to come out, but what it really came down to His I had to manage the cold, I had to manage rotating individuals out the safety of my agents, the local SWAT team, the base. He wanted to go in too quick and I basically had to control that and say no, what's there's no rush to go in. We don't need to put anybody in the Harm's Way. So it's all about collaborating with your local officers and agents and most importantly, making sure everybody goes home safe. Even the individual that we arrested.

I managed an emergency response situation where an individual had barricaded themselves in an apartment. I had to manage the cold, rotating individuals out and the safety of my agents and the local SWAT team. Eventually we were able to convince the individual to come out without putting anyone in harm's way.

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During my time with ATF in Chicago, I encountered a complex emergency response situation that required careful management. We had obtained an arrest warrant for an individual involved in firearms violations and planned to apprehend him at his workplace. However, the situation quickly escalated into a barricaded gunman scenario.

The individual had taken refuge in a small apartment within a complex, and despite our attempts to negotiate, he refused to come out. Knowing that he had firearms inside, we established a perimeter around the building. The situation was further complicated by the extreme cold of mid-February in Chicago. We were ill-prepared for prolonged exposure to the elements.

Collaborating with the local SWAT team, we had to rotate individuals to prevent hypothermia and ensure everyone's safety. As hours passed, the SWAT team proposed a dynamic entry to apprehend the individual. However, I strongly opposed this approach, as I prioritized the safety of all officers involved. I advocated for continued negotiation and avoiding unnecessary risks.

We employed various tactics to persuade the individual to surrender, and eventually, he agreed to come out. Throughout the ordeal, my focus was on managing the cold, ensuring the well-being of my agents, the SWAT team, and the suspect. I had to assert control and prioritize safety over haste, emphasizing that there was no need to endanger anyone's life.

This complex emergency response situation highlighted the importance of collaboration with local officers and agents, as well as the paramount goal of ensuring everyone's safety. Even in the arrest of the individual, our primary objective was to ensure that everyone involved went home safely.

What are some of your favorite mental tips for when the challenge and darkness creeps in?

Overcoming Darkness: Mental Tips to Conquer Challenges

What are some of your favorite mental tips for when the challenge and darkness creeps in? Some of the things that I like to do is take a step back and do some self-reflection. If I'm thinking that I'm in a challenging position, or me myself, I'm being challenged by somebody because of something I did or didn't do, I'll take a step back and actually reflect on what the situation is at hand. And realize and look into, you know, did I do something wrong? Is there something that I could have done better? And use that as a learning tool to say, okay, moving forward, this is how I'm going to handle this situation. If there's ever where darkness creeps in, where I'm really self-doubting, self-loathing myself, or just feeling not myself, that's the time that you need to reach out to somebody that you can talk to, phone a friend, phone a therapist. Just sit and figure out what you can actually do to better yourself. And it's some time to actually do some good affirmations to say, hey, you're strong, you've been through this. You've been through situations like this before. And look how you've handled them and use those to make yourself get through that dark and tough times. You know, one of my tips that I always use is this mantra that right now it's like this. Whatever you're going through, it's happening right at this second. And time is always changing and in five seconds, it may not be happening. You're in a different mindset. You're in a different zone. So whatever you're thinking about or going through, I use the mantra right now, it's like this, because everything changes and evolves. But you've got this, you can get through what you're going through, but don't be afraid to phone a friend.

In times of darkness, take a step back and do some self-reflection. Ask yourself if there is something you could have done better, and use it as a learning tool for the future. If need be, reach out to someone to talk to, such as a friend or a therapist. Lastly, remind yourself that whatever you're going through, you can get through it and it may not be happening in five seconds.

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When the challenge and darkness creep in, I have a few favorite mental tips that I rely on. Firstly, I take a step back and engage in self-reflection. I assess the situation at hand and consider if there's anything I could have done better or if I made a mistake. I use this as a learning opportunity to handle similar situations more effectively in the future.

If I find myself in a dark place, filled with self-doubt or negativity, I reach out to someone I can talk to. It could be a friend or a therapist. Having someone to confide in and seek support from can make a significant difference. It's important to take the time to figure out how to improve oneself during these challenging moments.

I also find that practicing positive affirmations can be helpful. Reminding myself of my strength and resilience, and reflecting on past situations I've overcome, boosts my confidence and helps me navigate through tough times.

One mental tip I often use is a mantra: Right now, it's like this. It serves as a reminder that everything is temporary and constantly changing. In just a few seconds, my mindset and circumstances can shift. This mantra helps me stay grounded and hopeful, knowing that I can get through whatever I'm facing.

Remember, you have the strength to overcome challenges, but don't hesitate to reach out for support when needed.

Donald Soranno answers your First Responders questions. See all the advice Donald Soranno has and get answers to your own First Responders questions.

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Donald Soranno is a retired special agent with 30+ yrs of experience in criminal investigations and corporate security. He served in the ATF, beginning in 1990 and worked his way up the ranks to become a Special Agent in Charge (SAC). He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2010 and was a Leadership Fellow with the FBI Leadership Institute in 2012. Don holds a bachelor's in Criminal Justice from Ferris State, an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management, and obtained his Certified Protection Professional (CPP) credentials from ASIS. Don is currently the Senior Product Manager/SME with Evidence IQ and with their Ballistics IQ solution helps law enforcement agencies solve gun crimes quicker. 