From Dispatcher to Deputy

From Dispatcher to Deputy: How a Helicopter Crash and Trauma Changed His Life. Special Episode. That call became the first of many moments that would shape his understanding of trauma, resilience, and eventually, recovery. He is the guest on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available for free on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and most podcast platforms.

When Andrew Baxter, better known by many as “Drew Breasy,” spent 28 years in law enforcement, beginning as a 911 dispatcher and ending as the lieutenant commanding a communications center that handled roughly 1.8 million calls annually. That journey taught me how to stay calm in chaos, and build teams that do the same. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast promoted across their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.

When took his first seat behind the console as a 911 dispatcher, he couldn’t have imagined how a single call would change the trajectory of his life. The young recruit had joined the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department full of energy and purpose. But one of his earliest calls, a helicopter crash, left a permanent imprint on his mind and spirit. Look for supporting stories about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .

“It was one of those calls you never forget,” Baxter says. “I wasn’t on the scene, but I could hear everything. The voices, the panic, the chaos. And that’s the thing about dispatching—sometimes the trauma isn’t direct, but it’s just as real.” From Dispatcher to Deputy: How a Helicopter Crash and Trauma Changed His Life. Special Episode.

That call became the first of many moments that would shape his understanding of trauma, resilience, and eventually, recovery.

From the Console to the Streets

Baxter’s career began in dispatch, but his ambition and commitment to service soon took him beyond the phone lines and radio traffic. He transitioned to the streets, trading in the headset for a patrol car. Over the years, he climbed the ranks, eventually retiring as a Sheriff’s Lieutenant. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.

While dispatch exposed him to the raw fear and emergencies of strangers, working the streets brought trauma even closer. He responded to violent crimes, traffic accidents, domestic disputes, and tragedies that most people only see on the evening news.

“The shift from dispatcher to deputy was like going from hearing about the fire to being inside of it,” he recalls. “You see things you can’t unsee. You carry them with you, whether you want to or not.”

The Hidden Cost of Service

For Baxter, the accumulation of both indirect trauma from dispatch and direct trauma from his time as a deputy began to take its toll. Like many in law enforcement, he carried his pain quietly, not wanting to burden others or show what might be perceived as weakness. From Dispatcher to Deputy: How a Helicopter Crash and Trauma Changed His Life. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.

But trauma has a way of surfacing. For Baxter, it came in the form of post-traumatic stress, destructive behavior, and substance abuse. The very qualities that made him a strong deputy, discipline, resilience, and a refusal to quit, were the same qualities that kept him from asking for help when he needed it most.

“I thought I could outwork it, push through it, just like I always had,” Baxter says. “But trauma doesn’t work that way. It catches up with you.”

His struggles spilled over into his personal and professional life. Relationships strained. Trust eroded. The career he had built with such pride began to feel like it was slipping away.

A Turning Point

Recovery didn’t come easily, but it did come. Baxter eventually sought help, and through the difficult proc