Facing a Critical Incident: A First Responder’s Experience During the 1989 Louisville Mass Shooting

Host:

• Jennifer Woosley Saylor, LPCC – Child of a Cop

Guest:

• Jim Woosley: Retired Police Officer

Episode Overview:

In this powerful episode, Jennifer sits down with her father, Jim Woosley—her hero and retired police sergeant—to recount and reflect on one of the most significant critical incidents of his career: the 1989 mass shooting at the Louisville Courier Journal building. Through raw storytelling and honest conversation, they explore the emotional realities of first responders, family impact, and how support systems have evolved.

Key Topics Covered

• A Day That Changed Everything: Jim recounts the morning when a routine shift quickly escalated into chaos after hearing of a shooting at 6th and Broadway. He shares, in vivid detail, what it was like to be one of the first responders at the scene, managing panic, uncertainty, and the urgent need to save lives.

• Frontline Decisions & Human Impact: The conversation covers the split-second decisions—like whether to carry a shotgun into close quarters, putting on a bulletproof vest, and ultimately choosing to help transport victims to the hospital using police cars when ambulances were scarce. Jim also shares his emotional connection to one of the survivors, a new mother returning from maternity leave.

• Aftermath & Community Response: Jennifer and Jim talk about how the Louisville community came together in mourning, the intense media coverage, and the urgent need for better EMS resources in the wake of tragedy.

• Critical Incident Stress Debriefing: They discuss the rare-for-the-time group debrief for first responders, how it helped change attitudes toward mental health in law enforcement, and the relief felt in not being alone with difficult emotions.

• Legacy for Families: Jennifer shares her experience as a first grader during the incident, highlighting the unnoticed but profound ways such events affect children. They reflect on the importance of open communication, resilience, and age-appropriate transparency for first responder families.

If this episode resonated with you or if you have stories to share about living with a first responder, reach out to Ashlee and Jennifer on their social media platforms!

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