Police Mental Health Miranda & Awareness

10/25/2024

For my law enforcement personnel that have been around for some time, by that I mean past and present, there was a term used called “Looking Beyond the License Plate” once mentioned by the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s (IACP) as a national law enforcement recognition program for police officers who observe a license plate violation and suspect that something further may be afoot.
In almost 40 years now in the profession, looking at license plates is second nature, whether your at work or not, it’s just engrained in our psyche as cops.
Before my son died almost 8 years ago by su***de, I would tell him that when you look beyond the license plate, don’t let it cloud your common sense or rush to judgement when he went to work at his job not to far from downtown Boston in a small campus agency, surrounded by things that would haunt the most seasoned veteran, myself included. Last evening, as I was driving within blocks of where he worked on my way home, I was looking at license plates as I and you all probably do subconsciously. A car drove right in front me on the expressway just as most other courteous Boston drivers do who are low on “blinkah” fluid but before I could look beyond the plate to salute them I was immediately drawn to the letters on the out of state plate..DKB.
My son, as well as my initials. Some will say ok, what’s the significance. After he passed I decided to have vanity plates for all of our personal cars with some variation his name or initials, just a daily reminder of his presence.
My message? As cops or first responders we are on the street everyday, looking at things that others don’t see and cannot unsee. We see signs that keep us alive and those with no signs of life. When you lose a loved one, someone who is a part of you and who was suppose to carry the torch forward for future generations, it changes you and you look for different signs.
If your struggling or think that you do not matter, look beyond that license plate, there are other signs that your life matters and you have a purpose.
I could of taken many a different route home from work last night but for some reason I didn’t
Stay focused, stay strong, stay alive.

First Help
First Help Families Only

09/08/2024

“Today” is 988 day and “September” is known as su***de awareness month. For mine and countless other familes, every second is for su***de awareness, for our loss and for prevention. Recognition is paramount for mental health related issues and those in a crisis contemplating taking their lives. Recognition of many other trials and tribulations society faces also have a day, week or month specific to their cause. What if we took recognition of these things everyday? Would the awareness be greater? Would there be less stigma for any societal issues that are only brought forth at a particular time of year? Su***de, cancer, racism, equal rights and heritage, they all have a “month”. In fact, the internet is overflowing with days, weeks, and months that they want us to recognize, so much so that it seems to compete with another cause or just to “check that box”
For First Responders in particular this awareness is heightened due to the daily traumas that we were and will be inevitably exposed do. It is not a one day thing. Situational awareness is loosely defined as the ability to perceive, understand, and effectively respond to the situation. As a LEO leader and/or organization, are we being situationally aware to our departments for the signs of our personnel’s struggles to effectively respond or are we waiting for that day or month of the year to send out a training memo, email or tweet to let them know you are there 24/7 and 365 without question or are we being complicit to the stigma?
Again, recognition is key for anything. Let’s not wait for something to happen. Let’s not wait for a day to let people know it’s okay not to be okay or to be who you are. Don’t check the box.
The last box I checked was my son when they closed the casket. That was to late. Don’t be that person. Be the change and be their voice.

07/31/2024

Baseball has always been a lifelong passion and intricate part of growing up for a lot of us. Passing that along to my boys was very special and along the way I realized how much our lives and baseball parallel one another, from keeping these in the lines, running afoul, teamwork, arguments or in my families case losing our son, the “su***de squeeze.”
I saw this article yesterday and it resonated with me as a Dad, Cop, Leader and Coach.
No matter what profession you may be in, it hits home. I wish I had 17 inches back with my boy
Give it a read, I’m glad I did

Dec 9 Chris Sperry Baseball Thoughts 134 In Nashville, Tennessee, during the first week of January, 1996, more than 4,000 baseball coaches descended upon the Opryland Hotel for the 52nd annual ABCA convention. Nineteen times since, many of the same professional, college, high school, youth, and a sl...

05/26/2023

https://www.mirandaforcops.com/about

David was born May 18,1992 and lived his entire life in Lynn, Mass. From an early age, he wanted to be a Police Officer and follow in the family tradition of service hoping to serve with his Father, a Captain with the City of Chelsea Police Department, just north of Boston, Mass. He had been serving...

05/19/2023

31 years ago today my first child, a son and my namesake was born changing what I new about being a man. I was the first one to see him take a breath. His destiny was to be a police officer along side me, but that was not to be as God had other plans for him in 2017, as I was the first to find him after he no longer was breathing. This is the face of su***de, unsuspecting, hidden behind a mask and without an early warning system. We all have the power to help shape the present and future of law enforcement by recognizing this epidemic and taking the corrective action to let those amongst us know that it is not a weakness to speak openly about our struggles and that we will not be cast aside for doing so. We would run towards the danger for another, take a bullet for our partner, or talk someone off a bridge but we hesitate to listen to our own or take action. We all have PTS but it’s not a Disorder. The hazards of our job are without equal and beyond normal, who amongst us can say otherwise. Let the D in PTSD stand for Determination. Be someone’s mutual aid, be their confidant, be their backup when they are in the dark alley.
These Memtal Health Miranda cards are created in his memory. We know Miranda but we do it have to remain silent for this. In my sons memory and all of those who have died by su***de or struggling, you matter and can thrive. These wallet sized laminated cards are available for you in his memory. Please contact us if you would like a card. Our website will be launching this week. In the interim, please contact me direct at 781-885-5584 if you would like to purchase one for $8.00 or if you are struggling.
# ***deawareness