Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

KPBS Midday Edition

Helping First Responders Deal With The Trauma They've Seen

"Bulletproof Spirit: The First Responder's Essential Resource for Protecting and Healing Mind and Heart," is a guide for first responders dealing with the emotional consequences of their high-stress jobs. It was written by La Mesa police Captain Dan Willis.
New World Library
"Bulletproof Spirit: The First Responder's Essential Resource for Protecting and Healing Mind and Heart," is a guide for first responders dealing with the emotional consequences of their high-stress jobs. It was written by La Mesa police Captain Dan Willis.

Helping First Responders Deal With The Trauma They've Seen
Helping First Responders Deal With The Trauma They've Seen GUEST:La Mesa Police Department Captain Dan Willis is a 25-year veteran of the La Mesa Police Department and author of the book, "Bulletproof Spirit: The First Responder's Essential Resource for Protecting and Healing Mind and Heart."

La Mesa police Captain Dan Willis has seen a lot in his 25 years as a homicide detective and SWAT Captain. It was in the middle of a 5-year murder investigation during which Willis immersed himself in a world of drug dealers, pimps and prostitutes that he realized the job was talking a toll on him.

Willis said he realized he had no feelings or connections to anyone. He felt numb.

Advertisement

"I realized that if I didn't do something about it I would end up killing myself," Willis said.

He said he discovered through trial and error what would help him keep his personal life separate from his work life while he wasn't there, and what would nurture his spirit.

Willis wrote "Bulletproof Spirit: The First Responder's Essential Resource for Protecting and Healing Mind and Heart," as a guide for first responders dealing with the emotional consequences of their high-stress jobs.

KPBS has created a public safety coverage policy to guide decisions on what stories we prioritize, as well as whose narratives we need to include to tell complete stories that best serve our audiences. This policy was shaped through months of training with the Poynter Institute and feedback from the community. You can read the full policy here.