Always Responding Episode #9

I was a fighter then, and I’m still a fighter now, or that’s what I have to keep telling myself. When I was an FTO I use to tell the new police officers to keep moving, no matter what you do just keep moving. If you freeze up bad things can happen. It’s a saying that can be applied to pretty much anything in life, and I said it all the time, but I don’t always follow my own advice. I am a dad, a husband and a friend. I have people who depend on me, just as much as I depend on them. My career of service started as a soldier in the U.S. Army. I had the distinction of being a U.S. Paratrooper and had the honor of serving with both the 101st Airborne Division, and the 82nd Airborne Division. I had an 8.5 year career in the military and I’m a veteran of the Gulf War. When I got out of the service I still had the desire to serve my community, and country.

Upon my departure from the military, I went back to school and earned my degree in law enforcement. I had a pretty awesome police career. 18 years to be exact. I retired from the South St Paul Police Dept in May of 2015.I While serving the community I had the opportunity to do some great things, and I had the honor to work with some truly great people. I enjoyed my time on the Dakota Co. SWAT team where I started out as negotiator for several years, and eventually made my way over to the operator side of the team.

Along the way, and in the progression of my career, things began to change in me. My love for the job, my health, my sleep, my mood, my drinking, my home life, and most importantly, my will to… Read More