“It was a couple years at this point, where it’s really affecting me. I was in denial about PTSD, and I was like oh well, I was a marine, I was in combat in Afghanistan. Alright, this is basically, you know, combat in New Jersey.”
– Officer Jay
Officer Jay had been on countless 911 calls, but something about this one felt different. Perhaps it was the lack of information available from dispatch or the call’s nondescript branding as a “disturbance,” but whatever it was, the uneasy feeling followed him as he and his partner drove to the address in question. When the door was answered by a man with a gun, Jay knew there wasn't much time to take cover, but he didn’t know how the incident would ultimately change his life.
Join former paramedic/firefighter and host Phil Klein as he sits down with Jay, a retired police officer who served in law enforcement for 12 years. Jay recalls the moment a 911 call turned deadly as a man pulled a gun on his partner, and he was forced to make a life-altering decision. He describes the weight of his actions on his mental health, his department’s lack of support and resources, and his eventual choice to push his thoughts aside, mask his feelings with alcohol, and become idle and unmotivated – all telltale signs of PTSD. Now, Jay works with first responders and veterans in the hope that his story will inspire others to break the stigma and seek help. He also encourages first responders to take time for themselves and to make their mental health and their families a priority.
Did you know that next week is the final episode in season four of Stories From the Road? But don’t worry – season five is already in the works for 2023! In the meantime, check out all the great episodes available on www.storiesfromtheroadpodcast.com or whichever platform you use to listen. If you’d like to be a guest on the upcoming season, click here to learn more. Thank you for your support!
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!