Jun 30 2024 48 mins 1
When an officer-involved shooting occurs, we often hear a lot about the victim, but what happens to the person who pulled the trigger?
Our Sponsors:
North American Game Warden Museum
Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH
International Wildlife Crimestoppers
Here’s what we discuss:
· Officer-involved shooting: no one knew how to handle it
· Systemic problems
· You’re never the same person
· One trauma can be a huge setback
· Fit for duty
· Stigma created by the word “homicide” in media
· Called to investigate a suspected night hunter
· Suspect fired at a citizen
· The chase
· Suspect stops, then rams Blaylock’s truck and flees
· Vehicle does not stop at a roadblock
· Suspect again rams officers’ vehicles
· “I’m not making it home tonight.”
· Less a decision than a reaction
· Driver was a 15-year-old male
· Praying for the driver
· A helpless, solitary feeling
· Driver recovered, and was later convicted only of night hunting
· Officer Blaylock is immediately cleared of wrongdoing
· Months of interviews and uncertainty
· A single counselling session
· “You have to talk about it. You cannot hold it in.”
· Nearly eleven months off work
· Stress and its impacts on the body
· The entire family is affected
· Friends - and even fellow officers - don’t know what to say
· Law enforcement, PTSD and alcoholism
· It’s okay to not be tough
· Subjects went on to commit more felonies
· “We don’t know how to handle needing a helping hand.”
· The importance of being proactive
· Learning what to expect, how to heal, and how to help
Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Art & Design: Ashley Hannett
Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches
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