Bend Don't Break
Delta Police Department
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Bend Don’t Break is a podcast that tells the story of police officers who have overcome significant adversity in their personal and professional lives. Through the power of story, the listener will understand the depth of resilience and personal strength that exists in the men and women who protect our communities 24x7.
Available episodes
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3 days ago
When the Hunter Became the Hunted
RCMP Sergeant Greg Toogood was at home enjoying an evening with friends and family when his chocolate labrador Abby started uncharacteristically barking outside. He went to the back door of his house to check on the dog. Greg, silhouetted in the door, was ambushed from afar and shot causing significant, permanent damage to his right arm.
On this episode of Bend Don't Break, Greg joins Chief Neil Dubord to talk about how the shooting affected him, and how he found the courage to come back both physically and mentally.
Join Chief Dubord and Sgt. Toogood as Greg shares the power of his story of resilience.
First responders are on the front lines daily, keeping our communities safe and facing some of the most dangerous situations; there is no doubt that the mental health toll of the job is significant. In recent years, the first responder community has worked hard to reduce the stigma and increase awareness, fostering an overall culture of wellness. The power of healing through story is the goal of Bend Don't Break, listed as one of the Top Policing & Law Enforcement Podcasts.
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Nov 17, 2023
Finding Strength in Recovery
Join Chief Neil Dubord as he speaks with Greater Sudbury Police Service Constable James Jefferson. James was involved in a critical incident that had a profound impact on how he managed and functioned. Until he was ready to acknowledge this impact and do something to help himself, he spiraled to his rock bottom. But when James did acknowledge the impact, he started a road to recovery for himself, and now uses his experiences and outlook to help others with the GSPS.
Looking for More Episodes?
You can find more episodes of Bend Don’t Break on iTunes, Google Play, and most other major podcasting platforms.
Connect with the Delta Police Department:
Follow the Delta Police on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Visit their website at DeltaPolice.ca
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Sep 29, 2023
You Can't Buy Good Mental Health, You Can Only Create It
Join Chief Neil Dubord as he speaks with psychologist Dr. Mark Davies. Mark has recently joined the Delta Police Department and works with our wellness section to help our officers be mentally healthy. A psychologist on staff is not a completely new thing, but it goes a long way to show how committed the DPD is to employee wellness.
Mark believes organizational culture can reduce barriers and contribute to healthy mental well-being. In speaking about a study conducted at Harvard, Dr. Davies states, “Unit cohesion in the military was a negative predictor of PTSD by a 20% variance.” Essentially, having the proper mechanisms in place before trauma occurs, can reduce the chance and severity of trauma, if and when trauma does happen.
Mark emphasizes the value of organizational culture, why he chose to work with first responders, and how his own lived experience is now helping him contribute to the DPD’s environment to help its officers. “Mental health isn’t about preventing bad, it’s about being really great.”
Looking for More Episodes?
You can find more episodes of Bend Don’t Break on iTunes, Google Play, and most other major podcasting platforms.
Connect with the Delta Police Department:
Follow the Delta Police on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Visit their website at DeltaPolice.ca
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Sep 16, 2023
First the Plane Crash, then the PTSD
This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Sande Higgins, an RCMP member who bravely shares her unique story of survival, followed by trauma.
In this episode, Chief Dubord speaks with Sande who, several years ago, boarded a plane five days before getting married to the love of her life, to moments later finding herself as a survivor. Sande describes the traumatizing experience and how it accompanied her in silence for many years, painfully but away from the sight of her close ones. Sande has remained resilient in the face of all the different obstacles she had to overcome and shares her story to encourage anyone suffering to seek help. Listen to this inspiring story!
Key Takeaways:
[2:53] Sande shares her background and how she became part of the RCMP.
[5:19] Sande expands on her experience in residential schools.
[6:45] Sande describes the mounted community.
[8:12] Each member had their own home at the mounted community.
[9:25] When the incident occurred, Sande was days away from her wedding. She talks about her relationship with her partner back then.
[12:46] Sande boarded the plane, and nothing seemed odd.
[15:17] What happened on July 4th?
[20:24] What is Telecom?
[21:18] Sande stops and tries to process what just happened.
[23:25] Sande talks about her injuries.
[25:45] Sande made sure everyone was all right.
[28:00] Sande got married five days after the incident.
[28:41] Sande returned to work pretty fast; she explained what that looked like.
[30:23] Before getting back to work, Sande consulted a psychologist.
[33:25] Sande had a son; she is convinced he saved her; shifting the focus was the key to starting healing.
[38:15] Sande confesses having thoughts of dying.
[39:11] Sande’s doctor told her she had PTSD years after the event.
[40:55] Sande receives a treatment plan for her PTSD.
[43:23] Sande talks about where she is on her journey today.
[45:18] How does Sande see a change in perspectives in the RCMP regarding mental health?
[47:33] Sande discusses survivor’s guilt.
[48:58] It is never too late to ask for help.
Mentioned in this Episode:
RCMP Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Looking for More Episodes?
You can find more episodes of Bend Don’t Break on iTunes, Google Play, and most other major podcasting platforms.
Connect with the Delta Police Department:
Follow the Delta Police on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Visit their website at DeltaPolice.ca
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Jul 18, 2023
Surviving PTSD: If I Could, You Can Too
This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Ryan Moore of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
In this episode, Chief Dubord speaks with Ryan about his struggle with PTSD and how he ended up helping others due to his own healing journey.
Ryan has indigenous roots and received his formal name when he was young, he was called Big Uncle, a name they hadn’t given for a while in his culture, which represents somebody who looks after people, a perfect name that foresaw his destiny.
In his role helping others, Ryan experienced extreme situations, which over time disturbed his peace, work, and relationships. Ryan turned his suffering into an opportunity to find himself again and to learn how to take care of his own mental health, which today he applies in helping others struggling with PTSD. Get inspired by Ryan’s brave journey, if he could, so do you!
Key Takeaways:
[1:25] Ryan talks about himself, his career, and how he got to join the RCMP.
[3:30] Ryan is also an indigenous member.
[5:04] Ryan shares his experience with PTSD.
[10:45] Ryan finally realizes he is suffering from PTSD (even though it was obvious to his closest ones).
[12:46] Ryan recalls the origins of PTSD in his life.
[21:34] The training that officers don’t receive.
[22:21] Ryan discusses his life as a veteran.
[27:43] Ryan and Chied Dubord address that moment when an officer realizes he/she needs time off because something is not correct.
[31:57] Ryan wants to get involved in Veteran’s Affairs by making a presentation, but things get complicated, and Ryan loses control.
[37:56] Ryan finds himself at home with no road map of what to do next; he shares how he found his way during that time.
[40:36] Ryan gets introduced to a particular treatment for people struggling with PTSD.
[44:07] Ryan was hesitant about the program; he did not think it was meant for him since he didn’t feel ready to retire.
[46:26] Ryan was sent home, which was the beginning of his recovery.
[48:26] Today, Ryan helps others on their journeys toward healing from PTSD.
[54:50] Ryan shares how he connects with other service members in need.
[56:12] Ryan’s first day back at work felt like a million dollars.
Mentioned in this Episode:
K9 Coffee Co.
Looking for More Episodes?
You can find more episodes of Bend Don’t Break on iTunes, Google Play, and most other major podcasting platforms.
Connect with the Delta Police Department:
Follow the Delta Police on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Visit their website at DeltaPolice.ca
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Jun 19, 2023
Overcoming PTSD: Thriving and Finding Happiness Beyond Trauma
Chief Neil Dubord is accompanied this week by Dr. Kendra Devor, who dives deep into her efforts regarding the Wellness Program designed to assist first responders in overcoming the repercussions of critical incidents they often endure in service.
In this episode, Chief Dubord speaks with Kendra Devor Psy. D., a Licensed Clinical Psychologist out of Orange County, California. Her professional experience has focused on treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, grief, and loss. Dr. Devor has extensive experience working with first responders and their family members.
Key Takeaways:
[1:45] Kendra introduces herself.
[4:10] Kendra talks about her certifications.
[5:14] Kendra shares about a particular client who has gone through several traumatic incidents.
[8:26] EMDR is an amazing therapeutic modality designed to treat trauma, Kendra explains why.
[10:39] Kendra continues talking about this specific client who got to therapy after his third critical incident; she addresses the two first traumatic events.
[14:49] Now, this deputy went through two more critical incidents.
[16:01] Less than one year later, this particular deputy is stronger and happier than ever.
[17:45] Kendra shares the best tools for assisting first responders.
[20:03] Kendra expresses her gratitude and honor for being trusted by cops.
[20:53] Kendra talks about the Wellness Program.
[24:01] Kendra addresses the invaluable importance of training.
[25:03] Physical wellness is also involved in the Wellness Program.
[27:41] Kendra shares her thoughts on the mental health stigma.
[30:22] Kendra advises: Go to therapy before you feel like you need it, and if you don’t like the clinician, it is not that therapy isn't for you; just seek another therapist.
Mentioned in this Episode:
K9 Coffee Co.
Looking for More Episodes?
You can find more episodes of Bend Don’t Break on iTunes, Google Play, and most other major podcasting platforms.
Connect with the Delta Police Department:
Follow the Delta Police on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Visit their website at DeltaPolice.ca.
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May 24, 2023
Whole-Person Wellness for First Responders
This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Kyle Stubbs, who is a member of the RCMP and was formerly in the Surrey Detachment.
In this episode, Chief Dubord speaks with Kyle about how his life took a sudden shift in 2018 with his premature daughter's birth. Kyle openly shares how his entire family was affected by this and especially the impact that the vulnerable health condition of his baby girl had on him as a father, a husband, and a cop. Kyle shares how he struggled to find the support he needed but, fortunately, ran into a therapeutic group that changed his life forever. This transformation brought along a new purpose to him: Nine8, a Health and Wellness Training Program for first responders Kyle created.
Key Takeaways:
[1:13] Kyle introduces himself.
[1:51] How did the frequent moving affect Kyle and his family?
[2:38] Kyle takes us back to 2018, when his younger daughter was born.
[5:25] Kyle talks about the delivery of her premature baby girl.
[7:31] Kyle ignored how this situation would impact his entire family.
[8:42] They had to fly back to the Children’s Hospital soon after arriving home.
[10:21] Kyle was told by the doctors her baby, Matilda, was going to go through surgery and that there was a possibility that she wouldn’t survive it.
[11:11] Matilda fully recovered; today she is a typical 5-year-old!
[11:33] Kyle talks about the pressure he placed on himself for not going to work during that period when Matilda was recovering.
[13:30] How did Kyle deal with the stress?
[14:34] Kyle became numb and disconnected from his family.
[15:14] Kyle tried therapy without luck, but he found a group that gave him the support he needed.
[16:50] Kyle’s least favorite word: Should.
[19:56] How did Kyle find the therapeutic group? How long did it take him to find it?
[22:14] By assisting the group, Kyle realized he was not alone.
[23:04] Kyle began a journey that provided even more meaning to his life and self-discovery.
[25:16] Kyle created Nine8, a 10-week program for first responders.
[26:18] Kyle shares some interesting statistics about under and over-40-year-old men and their meaningful connections.
[28:36] You are not alone.
[30:18] Chief Dubord highlights some of the most essential messages brought by Kyle to today’s episode.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Find more about Kyle Stubbs
Looking for More Episodes?
You can find more episodes of Bend Don’t Break on iTunes, Google Play, and most other major podcasting platforms.
Connect with the Delta Police Department:
Follow the Delta Police on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Visit their website at DeltaPolice.ca.
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May 1, 2023
Building a Care Culture
This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Jonny Morris, CEO of the British Columbia chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association, to discuss the event that took place on January 23rd, 2023, when the Delta Police Department received a report of an individual who was outside the safety rail on the southbound side of the Alex Fraser Bridge.
In this episode, Chief Dubord speaks with Jonny Morris, who reached out during the crisis faced on that bridge and extended his support through a long negotiation process that lasted 8 hours and also caused the closing of the bridge, which created discontent from the general population which was affected by this security measure.
The overall decision to close the bridge was complex but guided by the belief in the importance of preserving life, which first responders and committed officers achieved, saving this man’s life and successfully assisting an individual with a mental health crisis.
Key Takeaways:
[4:15] Jonny Morris, CEO of the British Columbia chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association, joins Chief Dubord.
[7:13] Jonny talks about his role and how he advocates for mental health.
[9:44] Jonny shares the successes accomplished and the services the Canadian Mental Health Association gives.
[13:35] Care to Speak and Care for Care Giver and their impact on stress management teams and first responders.
[16:33] Jonny talks about building psychologically safe environments and their work on preventive care.
[19:58] Jonny speaks of the Study in Blue and Gray, a report with many recommendations in cases of people confronting a mental health emergency.
[23:54] Jonny described the importance of creating a psychologically safe workplace.
[32:40] Why is it so difficult for mental fitness to be on the same footing as physical health?
[39:08] Jonny expresses his gratitude.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Canadian Mental Health Association
Learn more about 13 Factors: Addressing Mental Health in the Workplace
Anxiety Canada
Call the crisis line: 3-10-6789
Looking for More Episodes?
You can find more episodes of Bend Don’t Break on iTunes, Google Play, and most other major podcasting platforms.
Connect with the Delta Police Department:
Follow the Delta Police on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Visit their website at DeltaPolice.ca.
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Mar 29, 2023
The Cost of Confidentiality
This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Grayson Hawkings and Joel Thirsk from the Delta Police Department.
In this episode, Chief Dubord speaks with Grayson and Joel about their intervention in a case that had an unexpected turn and how they handled a complex and uncertain incident in the Ferry Terminal, displaying a magnificent team effort. Both Grayson and Joel share the impact the process that followed the event had on them since they were not able to talk to anyone about the incident for many months. They also speak of the strategies and tools they used to keep their psychological strength and clarity.
Key Takeaways:
[1:43] Grayson shares about himself
[2:07] Joel talks about how he joined the Delta Police Department.
[3:17] Reflection on a previous call involving Grayson and Joel. Four years ago, Joel and Grayson got a peculiar call about a child stuck in mud.
[4:09] Introduction of crisis call. Radio clip of the police communicating during the incident at the ferry terminal.
[7:50] Grayson talks about that call.
[13:05] Grayson had to run after the man that was driving the taxi.
[13:36] Joel shares what he knew about what was happening.
[14:39] Grayson and Joel were at the moment working by themselves, each in a one-person unit.
[14:55] Grayson explains the yelling in the radio clip.
[16:33] Joel shares how he got to support Grayson.
[18:30] Grayson finds out the man has a knife.
[20:55] Grayson talks about what happened after the man starts to harm himself..
[23:40] From de-escalation to applying first aid.
[24:40] Grayson distances himself from the scene to catch his breath.
[26:09] Joel shares the events after the man harmed himself and all the questions he had in his mind at the moment.
[28:12] Grayson returned to the office, and anxiety started to kick in.
[29:46] Grayson and Joel discuss the impact of being unable to speak with anyone about what happened.
[32:08] Grayson shares how upsetting it was for his belt to be taken from him.
[32:50] Joel did not sleep well after the event.
[35:34] How was it like to get back to work?
[36:55] Grayson and Joel did not know how long the process would be.
[37:50] They could speak to no one (not even the psychologist or teammates)
[40:57] Joel and Grayson discuss their strategies to continue working and staying positive.
[44:01] Months turned into years, what did Joel and Grayson do over that period of time?
[45:54] Eighteen months later, they have to talk about the incident. How fresh was it in their minds?
[47:42] There is a need to understand the process.
[49:45] Social connections are crucially important inside and outside of the police.
[51:42] Did they do anything to try to stop the event from repeating itself in their minds?
[54:09] Would there have been any advantage if they were allowed to tell the story sooner?
[55:13] Joel grew up in a police family.
[56:45] Chief Dubord summarizes the advice that Joel and Grayson provided.
Mentioned in this Episode:
K9 Coffee Co.
Looking for More Episodes?
You can find more episodes of Bend Don’t Break on iTunes, Google Play, and most other major podcasting platforms.
Connect with the Delta Police Department:
Follow the Delta Police on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Visit their website at DeltaPolice.ca.
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Feb 14, 2023
A Story of Resilience and Perseverance: We Need to Protect the Protectors
This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Todd Mason from the Victoria Police Department. In this episode, Chief Dubord speaks with Todd about two tragic incidents that changed his career and affected him deeply, impacting his physical and mental health profoundly.
Todd boldly shares the struggles he endured being diagnosed with PTSD, major depression and anxiety and how he regained control of his life and has his PTSD in remission. Listen to Todd’s inspiring story of transformation, resilience, and perseverance.
Key Takeaways:
[1:51] In September of 2021 Todd was a negotiator with the Victoria Police Department, he shares a critical incident he experienced on September 15th.
[6:58] Todd took a week off after the shooting.
[8:11] Todd talks about the events that happened on September 27th.
[13:27] How fast did the car hit Todd?
[13:50] Todd talks about the several injuries resulting from the incident.
[15:23] How did Tom get to the hospital?
[17:37] What happened after Todd got released from the hospital?
[21:15] Todd talks about the impact this incident has on his psyche.
[25:30] Medication helped Todd a lot.
[25:55] Todd speaks of his wife’s unconditional support.
[28:54] Todd confesses that he did not know what was happening to him at the time.
[31:23] Todd heard about a program dedicated to helping people with PTSD.
[34:09] Treatment at Ravensview felt like a full-time job to Todd.
[35:04] Todd was out for three months, and he talks about what was different when he came back.
[36:00] Depression is a daily battle.
[36:43] What is the prognosis for Todd?
[37:55] Was Which of the physical or mental injuries was the hardest to get over with?
[39:12] What happened to the person that tried to run Todd down?
[42:31] Todd shares some of the things that worked for him.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Homewood Ravensview
Looking for More Episodes?
You can find more episodes of Bend Don’t Break on iTunes, Google Play, and most other major podcasting platforms.
Connect with the Delta Police Department:
Follow the Delta Police on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and Chief Neil Dubord on Linkedin
Visit their website at DeltaPolice.ca.
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Feb 9, 2023
Todd MasonSizzle
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Dec 6, 2022
‘10-33’ - Officer Down: RCMP Sgt. Laurie White’s Story of Being Shot in the Leg and Her Return to The Front Line
This week Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Laurie White. Laurie graduated from the RCMP training academy, ‘depot’, in 1996 and was posted to Kitimat, B.C.
Less than three years into her career she was shot in the leg while executing a search warrant at the home of a sex offender. Laurie shares her incredible story of losing her leg, her physical and mental recovery and her heroic return to work as the first police officer in Canada to return to full, unrestricted policing duties, with an artificial leg.
Laurie and Chief Dubord discuss how the injury sent her to a dark place mentally, and how she struggled with constantly being told ‘you are lucky to be alive’, while at the same time feeling incredibly angry.
Laurie went on to have a full career and write a book about her experience after her retirement in 2020. (Link Book – 10-33 Officer Down)
https://www.amazon.ca/10-33-Officer-Down-Steps-Back/dp/1039115748
This is a story you won’t want to miss.
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Nov 8, 2022
Skewed World View: How Policing Affects Your Perspective
In this episode, Chief Neil Dubord speaks with retired LAPD Chief Psychologist Dr. Kevin Jablonski. Kevin discusses how, in 25 years with the LAPD, he observed policing distort and skew how police officers view their world - becoming increasingly negative.
Kevin also challenges police officers to explore their own world view and challenge it, noting that while black and white thinking might serve a purpose on the job, life outside of policing has many more shades of grey.
Key Takeaways:
[2:35] Kevin talks about his background and how he became a psychologist working with police officers.
[5:58] Kevin learned in a very short time that his prejudgements and stereotypes about law enforcement officers were not valid.
[6:30] Kevin became the Chief Police Psychologist at LAPD.
[8:35] Kevin talks about the stereotypes regarding policing.
[13:33] Kevin shares an example from a particular consultation a police officer brought to him.
[19:11] How can our worldview be balanced between awa…
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Oct 12, 2022
The Unreasonable Ask: Supporting Police Officers Fighting the Emotional Toll of Their Jobs
This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by _ Steve Joordens_, a Professor at the University of Toronto where he teaches psychology, and Sgt. Dave Haynes, a Police officer who has been working for the Toronto Police Services for 21 years.
In this episode, Chief Dubord speaks with Steve and Dave about how they put together a course for police officers to help face the stress and anxiety that come with their very challenging jobs. Steve explains how this course became an amazing opportunity to give back to the community by helping officers in need. Steve and Dave share how their course fits with police culture, while at the same time, acknowledging the often unrecognized psychological challenges police officers have to face.
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Sep 13, 2022
A Journey into PTSD with Nathan Kapler
This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Nathan Kapler, who has his own podcast called Ten Thirty-Three, where he tells some of his experiences through extremely challenging situations as a Police Officer. Nathan shares in his show how he learned to handle his emotions, and also deal with his own unresolved trauma.
In this episode, Chief Dubord speaks with Nathan about how he grew up in a small town in Northern Alberta wanting to be a caring and compassionate policeman. He shares the beginning of his career when he only was 21 years old, and how, several years later, his mental health started to suffer, developing PTSD and later, facing addiction. Nathan, bravely, openly, and unapologetically, shares his journey through PTSD, its origins, and its consequences, so others know they are not alone.
Key Takeaways:
[1:13] Nathan shares what motivated him to become a Police Officer.
[3:25] Nathan speaks about the early years of his career.
[5:01] Nathan talks about some of his first ex…
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Jul 5, 2022
(Part 2) Tragedy in Mayerthorpe Alberta: Supt. James Hardy’s Story of Investigating the Murder of 4 Mounties while Caring for his Team
This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined again by James Hardy who has been in policing for more than 4 decades, he was with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police then over to the Calgary Police Service, and later developed a consulting career.
This episode is the second part of an amazing conversation with James. He shares how a large team of police officers investigated the murder of 4 RCMP officers on a rural property in Alberta in 2005. In addition to investigating the murder, James was one of the senior members in charge of making sure the mental health of his team was taken care of, and he speaks of the increasing importance of continuing to care for officers mental wellness 17 years after the tragedy
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Jun 7, 2022
Maintaining Professionalism in the Face of Tragedy: Retired RCMP Supt. James Hardy Shares his Story of Leading Through Crisis
This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by James Hardy who has been in policing for more than 4 decades, he was with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police then over to the Calgary Police Service, and later developed a consulting career.
This episode is the first part of two, where James speaks about his 40 years of career in policing and how hard it was to retire. He also shares two major incidents that happened during his vast career that impacted him forever. James shares in detail both events and how he managed to balance professionalism and pay attention to his emotions.
Stay tuned for part 2, where James talks about his role as a Team Commander in the Mayerthorpe tragedy that took the lives of four RCMP officers.
Key Takeaways:
[1:30] James talks about his career.
[9:18] James shares how difficult was for him to retire, feeling guilt for abandoning this team that became his family.
[13:40] How was James connected to the incident that happened in Stony Plain Alberta? Jame…
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May 3, 2022
Trauma and Stress, One 9-1-1 Call at a Time: Giselle Chiu’s Story of Answering the Call for Help
This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Giselle Chiu, a Delta Police employee who experienced stress and trauma build throughout her 9-1-1 call-taking career.
Giselle discusses her drive for a life of service, the toll answering 9-1-1 calls took on her wellbeing and a traumatic incident that occurred outside of work where her life saving efforts to save a baby were unsuccessful.
Giselle’s story of resilience is one you won’t want to miss.
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Apr 5, 2022
Saying Goodbye to Policing: A Career Lost to an On The Job Brain Injury
This month Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Constable Jenny LeQuesne from the Victoria Police Department (VicPD) who is sharing her incredible story.
In this episode, Chief Dubord and Jenny speak about how being injured on the job led to the end of her beloved 12 year career. Jenny talks about trying to return to work as a police officer on patrol, the realization that a brain injury would mean that would never happen and the subsequent feeling of loss and how she ended up saying goodbye to policing.
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Mar 9, 2022
Physical, Mental and Emotional Impacts of Investigating Sex Crimes: RCMP Cst. Shelby Murphy Shares Her Story
This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by RCMP Cst. Shelby Murphy. In this episode, Shelby shares her story from her time in the RCMP’s Sex Crimes section investigating child sexual assaults and child pornography. Shelby shares that these investigations deeply impacted her physically, mentally and emotionally, to the point where she ended up suffering from PTSD and lived in shame for years.
Shelby talks about how sharing her story was met with love and understanding, not the judgement and stigma she feared. Her story is inspirational, filled with life lessons and hope.
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Jan 11, 2022
A Journey in Healing: Abbotsford Police Cpl. Aaron Courtney’s Story of Staying in the Fight
This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Aaron Courtney, a 19-year veteran of the Abbotsford Police Department.
In this episode, Chief Dubord speaks with Aaron about how his career and life were completely altered in 2019 after he was a victim of a serious on-duty pedestrian hit-and-run motor vehicle incident. He shares his personal story, his struggles with career loss, his major health changes, organizational pressures, and the dark realities of PTSD and depression. He also opens up about the turning point that sparked his transformation and how his journey has led him to starting a business that assists with the medical bills of retired Canadian police dogs from coast to coast. https://supportretiredlegends.com/
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Dec 15, 2021
Life Lessons from a Homicide Detective: Calgary Police Service Detective Dave Sweet’s Story.
On this edition of Bend Don’t Break, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by a 23-year member of the Calgary Police Service, Dave Sweet.
In this episode, Dave shares key lessons he has learned as a Homicide Detective, impactful moments in his career that have changed his perspective on policing, and the coping strategies he leverages to protect his mental health.
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Nov 9, 2021
Navigating an International Kidnapping and the Trauma of Losing Two Canadians: Three RCMP Negotiators Share Their Stories
This month on the Bend Don’t Break Podcast, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by not one, but three fantastic guests. S/Sgt. Mike Bloxham, Sergeant Dave Fouche, and Superintendent Dave Teboul are all experienced RCMP Crisis Negotiators here to talk about the critical incident that brought them all together.
In this podcast, Mike, Dave T., and Dave F. speak about a 9-month long international kidnapping of two Canadian citizens. The three negotiators share their experience during the months long negotiation, and how they managed their mental health struggles after the incident was over.
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Oct 7, 2021
PTSD & Night Terrors. RCMP Cst. Mark Bouchard Shares His Story of Processing Trauma and Healing.
This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Mark Bouchard. Mark first joined the Delta Police Department in 2007 and in 2020, Mark left the Delta Police to join the RCMP. Currently, he is serving on RCMP’s North District Emergency Response Team that he has been a part of since March 2021.
In this episode, Mark shares some of the life-changing experiences he has gone through throughout his career from patrol to ERT. He candidly speaks on how these experiences have impacted his mental health, what he has done to recover, and his advice to both leaders and first responders on what they can do to support others going through similar experiences or recover from these difficult experiences themselves.
Mark is working on a book about his experience and has a website with helpful resources for first responders. Check out Mark's website at https://markbouchard.ca/
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Sep 14, 2021
Airdrie Firefighter Chris Bentley opens up about Coping with Indirect Trauma, Years After the Catastrophic Wildfire in Slave Lake Alberta.
In this episode of Bend Don’t Break, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Chris Bentley.
Chris and Chief Neil Dubord discuss the topic of vicarious trauma. You don’t always have to be right on the front line to experience the side effects from a traumatic incident.
Chris shares his experience assisting with the wildfire effort in 2011 in Slave Lake, AB, and how it impacted his mental health in the years that followed. He speaks about the ups and downs he went through during and following the catastrophic event.
When we see despair all around us, we can be weighed down by the helplessness of the situation. Chris’ story is one that will relate to many others. Be sure to not miss out on his powerful story.
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Jun 8, 2021
Standing Shoulder to Shoulder: RCMP Cpl. Deepak Prasad’s Story about Taking Care of a Community and Fellow Officers after a Tragic Mass Shooting.
The focus of today’s episode is on creating positive situations out of the darkest moments. Joining Chief Neil Dubord today is Deepak Prasad, a Divisional Wellness Coordinator for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
April 18-19th, 2020 in Nova Scotia marked one of the darkest moments in the history of the province and the country. A gunman went on a rampage and took many innocent lives including the life of Constable Heidi Stevenson, a mother of two who had been with the RCMP for 23 years. On the morning of the 19th, Deepak’s phone went off to ‘steady-up’ and deploy the peer support team to do everything that they could do to support their community.
In this episode, Deepak Prasad shares his experience of this event, the silver lining of the community coming together, the importance of being proactive in your wellness, and why you need a support structure. This is a deeply impactful conversation and episode you do not want to miss.
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May 4, 2021
Vancouver Firefighter Lieutenant Jenn Dawkins on Surviving and Thriving Through a Cancer Diagnosis
Get ready for another fascinating, powerful, and insightful episode of The Bend Don’t Break podcast! This week, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Vancouver Fire Lieutenant Jenn Dawkins. Jenn has some incredible experience both in and out of her role as a firefighter and a powerful story of resilience that anybody can learn from.
Jenn’s story is one that anyone could relate to. She speaks about the challenges of being one of seven women that were a part of an 800-person organization, her firefighting career, the health challenges she has faced and overcome, and the strategies she has put in place to keep her physically and mentally well. No matter what your journey in mental health and wellness may look like, Jenn’s story is one not to miss.
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Apr 6, 2021
Overcoming the Trauma of Investigating the Death of a Child: RCMP Cst. Glen Fenimore’s Story of Resilience
Today, Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Glen Fenimore, former member of the Calgary Police Service, and currently a Constable with the RCMP. Glen was with the Calgary Police for 14 years before leaving policing to be closer to his family. His service with Calgary included a role in the Priority Crimes Unit which involved being part of undercover operations.
On November 13th, 2011 a horrific crime occurred in Calgary that would eventually have a big impact on Glen’s career and life. In this episode, Glen shares details of the undercover operation he was part of, his trauma that followed, and how he overcame these difficulties both in and out of policing.
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Mar 9, 2021
Building Resilience Without Trauma: RCMP Sgt. Major Sebastien Lavoie’s Approach to Leading Through Critical Incidents
Welcome back to the Bend Don’t Break podcast! Chief Neil Dubord is welcoming RCMP Sergeant Major Sebastien Lavoie to this episode.
Sgt. Major Lavoie’s career highlights include the Canadian Air Carrier Protective Program and the Lower Mainland District Emergency Response Team.
In their conversation together, Sgt. Major Lavoie talks about his career journey, the lessons he has learned through difficult experiences and the recovery plan that he developed to ensure people on his team were provided with enough support through critical incidents. He also shares how to build resilience without trauma, and how to build your emotional IQ.
If you’re a leader or colleague of someone who is going through a difficult time right now this episode will be particularly impactful for you.
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Feb 2, 2021
Aftermath of a Mass Shooting: Las Vegas Police Department Lt. Joshua Bitsko Recounts the Months and Years After the Tragedy.
This episode is part two of the two-part series with Lt. Joshua Bitsko from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
In the first part of the series, Josh recounts the day of the October 1st, 2017 Las Vegas shooting as one of the first responders on the scene. He took listeners moment-by-moment from when he first received the call up to finding the shooter deceased in his room.
In this episode, Josh shares further insight into his mindset, emotions, and mentality during and post-incident. He also speaks about the key lessons he learned about resiliency, and the pieces that played the most important roles in helping him heal and move forward.
His body cam footage from the incident can be found here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlrwOaQTuFw
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Dec 15, 2020
Massacre in Sin City: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Lieutenant Joshua Bitsko’s Moment-by-Moment Account of the ‘Route-91’ Music Festival Shooting
Today is a special episode for the Bend Don’t Break podcast. Chief Neil Dubord is joined by Lt. Joshua Bitsko from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, who recounts the day of the 2017 Las Vegas shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival.
Lt. Bitsko takes listeners moment-by-moment from when he first received the call, to finding the shooter deceased in his room.
Be sure to tune in to our next episode, where Josh shares further insight into his mindset, emotions, and mentality during and after the crisis.
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Nov 3, 2020
Seeking Help: Abbotsford Police Cst. Mike Willford’s Story of Compassion Fatigue.
*This episode contains graphic language.* In this episode, Cst. Mike Willford of the Abbotsford Police Department joins the podcast to share his personal story on compassion fatigue.
Mike and Chief Neil Dubord discuss Mike’s experience of being the ‘helper’, but not seeking help for himself and how that led to physical symptoms he could not ignore.
His story is a unique but common one in the sense that there was no one, single event that stood out or led to his symptoms; it was the small incidents that added up over time.
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Oct 6, 2020
Reintegration: How Edmonton Police Service is Helping Police Officers After a Traumatic Event
In this episode, Chief Neil Dubord is excited to be joined by two guests who are both long-time Edmonton Police Service members, Colleen Mooney and Glen Klose. In this episode, Glen and Colleen discuss how Edmonton Police look after their members after traumatic events on the job, and how for the past 11 years, the department’s Reintegration Program has been helping police officers get back to work.
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Sep 8, 2020
Beyond the Blue: Police Spouse Erica McKeddie Shares her Story about Strengthening and Supporting Law Enforcement Families.
On this episode of Bend Don’t Break, host Chief Neil Dubord speaks to the founder of the Vancouver chapter of Beyond the Blue about the need for more peer support for family members of police officers.
As the spouse of a Vancouver Police officer, Erica McKeddie founded Beyond the Blue after tragedy touched her family and her extended police family. Erica shares her story about how Beyond the Blue is working to strengthen and support law enforcement families.
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Aug 4, 2020
Shot in the Line of Duty: Metro Vancouver Transit Police Cst. Josh Harm’s Story of Recovery and Resiliency
Metro Vancouver Transit Police Constable (Cst.) Josh Harms joins the podcast to discuss his recovery after he was shot while on duty in early 2019. After going through this traumatic event, Cst. Harms returned to work, concentrating not on the number of days it took to return, but the work he put into his recovery, resiliency, and mindset.
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Jun 1, 2020
60 Hour Walk for PTSD Awareness: RCMP Sgt. Rob Farrer’s Quest to Support First Responders
A 20 year RCMP officer, Rob Farrer recognized the need for more awareness associated with post-traumatic stress disorder amongst first responders. Rob took it upon himself to hike 1 kilometer for every fallen officer of the RCMP - 239 kilometers in 56.5 hours, over the course of three straight days.
Rob shares his process of why he decided to do the walk, what the walk was like, and what happened as a result.
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Mar 30, 2020
Surviving the Covid-19 Crisis: Advice on How to Stay Resilient
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Mar 3, 2020
Metro Vancouver Transit Police Cst. Julien Ponsioen on Facing Adversity on and off the Job.
After a 21-year career with B.C. Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), Cst. Julien Ponsioen joined the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, serving Vancouver’s Downtown Community area as a Neighbourhood Police Officer. In this episode, Julien speaks about the adversities he’s faced on and off the job, including trauma while with EHS, as well as coming to terms, and coming out as gay to family and colleagues.
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Feb 4, 2020
Frontline policing: The wear and tear of everyday calls for service
Edmonton Police Service 20 year veteran, Gary Benoit shares a common story that most first responders can relate to - the impact that day-to-day stress can play on one’s health and wellness. Gary shares lessons on facing these challenges head-on, and how to discover your ‘why’ and pave your path to recovery and self-improvement.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Edmonton Police Service
The 5 Love Languages, by Gary Chapman
Bring About What You Think About, by Eddie LeMoine
Oola: Find Balance in an Unbalanced World — The Seven Areas You Need to Balance and Grow to Live the Life of Your Dreams, by Troy Amdahl and Dave Braun
Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement: A Guide for Officers and Their Families, by Kevin M. Gilmartin
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Jan 13, 2020
From a Routine Break-and-End Call to a Dangerous Shootout - Victoria Police Sergeant John Musicco's Story
In 2015, Sgt John Musicco, a 14 year veteran with the Victoria Police Department, took what started out as a fairly standard break-and-enter call. The events following were anything further from standard. In the 3 ½ years that followed, John went through a process that, to this day, remains a big part of his life. His story is incredibly invaluable to hear and learn from. He shares the significant hurdles he faced, the strategies he used to cope and move forward, his key lessons, and advice
Key Takeaways:
[:45] Chief Neil Dubord welcomes John Musicco on to the podcast and kicks off the episode with an easy question: what did he have for breakfast?
[1:26] About today’s guest, John Musicco.
[1:59] John speaks about his background in policing at the Victoria Police Department.
[5:48] John tells the story of the significant call that came in November 2014 and the events that followed.
[14:11] John speaks about what was going through his head at the time of the incident.
[16:28] J…
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Nov 12, 2019
Undercover Cop Steps Out Of the Shadows in Fight Against Terminal Brain Cancer
Today’s story is an incredible one — but even more incredible is the resiliency today’s guest shows through his journey over the last several years.
Ryan (Chopper) Masales started as a police officer in 2001 at the Vancouver Police Department. He worked there for 11 years before he transferred to Abby PD in 2010. He spent the major part of his career working as a undercover operator and is well known in the policing world for his knowledge of drugs. Chopper has been a good friend of the Delta Police Department for a long time — helping them through many significant investigations with his incredible undercover work. He’s done many wonderful things to help keep our community safe. To this day, he continues to work at the JIBC by delivering lectures to the new recruits related to drugs and UC work.
On August 26th, 2016, Ryan suffered a seizure while at work. He was rushed to Vancouver General Hospital where a subsequent scan revealed a tumor in the left lower quadrant of his…
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Nov 5, 2019
Investigating Major Crime with an Oxygen Tank Strapped to her Back: RCMP Cst. Cathleen Falebrinza’s story of Resiliency.
Today on Bend Don’t Break, your host Chief Neil Dubord is interviewing someone from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) — a first for the podcast! Cathleen Falebrinza is an RCMP officer who first was trained at the RCMP training academy, ‘Depot’, in 2004. When she graduated in 2005, she was posted to Quesnel, British Columbia where she met her future husband, Stuart, who she now has been married to for 14 years and has two stepdaughters with.
In 2014 however, life as she knew it changed forever. During her time in the Chilliwack Serious Crime Unit she was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis — a lung disease she was told could not be cured and would get progressively worse until she died from it. Cathleen didn’t let this news stop her however. She continued to go to work and was fitted with an oxygen change on her back that she had to change out 3-4 times a day. She soon learned that having a double lung transplant would be the only way to continue living.
The incredib…
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Oct 1, 2019
Nearly Losing her Life over a Stolen Chocolate Bar: Victoria Police Department Detective Lane Douglas-Hunt’s Journey on Navigating PTSD
Today’s guest is Lane Douglas Hunt. Lane has been a member with the Victoria Police Department since 2008. She has spent most of her career on the front lines in patrol where she was on the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team for 6 years. Currently, she serves as the Explosives Technician, a Detective in the Special Victims Unit, and a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management Team. Outside of work, Lane and her amazing husband, Jeff, are parents to 2 dogs, 50 chickens, a 700-gallon reef tank, and 5 honey bee hives! When they aren't lifting weights or farming they are riding their Harleys on beautiful Vancouver Island together.
In this episode, Lane has an amazing story to share that displays incredible resiliency. The incident happened back in 2011 when she was just a junior member at 24 years old with less than 2 ½ years on the job. Her day started off like any other. She spent the morning filing paperwork and was called to a routine call at a 7-Eleven for someone wh…
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Sep 4, 2019
Losing 9 Fingers to Frostbite: The Climbing Expedition that Changed Firefighter Erik Bjarnason’s Life
In this week’s episode of Bend, Don’t Break another firefighter joins the podcast! Erik Bjarnason is a career firefighter with the North Vancouver City Fire Department, who has recently retired. He is also a long-time member of North Shore Rescue and an avid mountaineer. Erik has climbed mountains in Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, and South America; completed a month-long dogsled trip in the Arctic to the magnetic North Pole; and explored the entire length of the Amazon from the highest point in Bolivia to the Atlantic Ocean.
Today, Erik is sharing the story of the most impactful expedition he went on that almost turned fatal. The aftermath of this expedition left him missing all of his fingers and one of his thumbs. His family was told to be prepared for the worst.
Listen in to hear how he overcame challenges related to the loss of his fingers such as alcohol addiction, conflict in the workplace, and ultimately finding ways to alleviate his stress, recovery, getting back t…
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Aug 7, 2019
Delta Police Constable Geoff Young’s Courageous Story: Overcoming Addiction and Fighting to save his Career.
Joining the Bend, Don’t Break Podcast today is Geoff Young. Geoff is 42 years old and has been with the Delta Police Department for 12 years. Prior to joining Delta Police, he served in the infantry in the Canadian Armed Forces in New Brunswick with the Royal Canadian Regiment. He was also a Corrections Officer at Surrey Pre-Trial Services Centre, as well as a commercial pilot for both land and seaplanes.
In today’s episode, Geoff transparently shares his incredibly courageous story centered around his struggle with opioid addiction. Geoff speaks about the struggles with managing complications from Crohn's disease which led to multiple hospital stays and surgeries, and how the narcotics he was given for 23 months threw his life into a downward spiral.
From reintegrating work, having tough conversations, the importance of receiving support, to coming out on top of your struggle by ‘owning it,’ and more — you don’t want to miss this week’s episode and the key lessons Geof…
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Jul 3, 2019
When a Routine Call Turns Life Threatening: Vancouver Police Constable Craig Look’s Story
On this week’s episode, Bend, Don’t Break is welcoming on their first guest from the Vancouver Police Department — Constable Craig Look!
Constable Craig Look is a 16-year member with the Vancouver Police Department and has worked in various sections within the department, with a focus on taking a proactive approach toward policing. Away from work, Constable Look spends his time with his family and volunteer-coaching for his children's sports teams.
In this episode, Constable Look shares his stories about two significant calls he received within his career. One of them dates back about 15 years ago when he first started out at the department and still impacts him to this day. It began as a standard report call and ended with him being stabbed several times, followed by months of recovery. Constable Look outlines these events in great detail on this podcast, reflects on some of his main struggles and challenges throughout these trying times, and explains some of the primary metho…
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Jun 4, 2019
Brush with Death: Delta Police Acting Sergeant John Jasmins’ Story
This week, John Jasmins joins Chief Neil Dubord to discuss the challenges he has been through throughout his career.
John Jasmins started with the Delta Police Department as a Reserve Constable, and has been a regular member with the department for over 13 years. He has worked in Patrol, Street Crime Unit, Uniform Gang Task Force, CFSEU, Youth Section, and Community Policing. Currently, John is assigned to the North Delta District Community Policing Office and is working on his Master of Laws Degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. His wife, Kristina, is also a police officer and is a member of the Surrey RCMP. Together they have 3 children: Dante, Brooklyn and Ari.
John has been through a number of difficult challenges over the course of his career, with the most recent challenge happening only a month ago (from the time this episode was recorded.) From two collision incidents to heart surgery to being stabbed while intervening in an altercation off-duty — John has been through many…
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May 1, 2019
Retired Abbotsford Police Chief Bob Rich’s Story of Leading through Traumatic Events and Organizational Crisis.
This week, Bob Rich joins the podcast! Bob was the Chief of the Abbotsford Police for 10 years, retiring in 2018. Prior to that, he was with the Vancouver Police for 28 years, finishing his time as the Deputy Chief of Operations.
Bob’s story begins just before 2015. During his time in Abbotsford, the Department faced a number of difficult events — both in the community and within the Department.
He dealt with two suicides, him and his team being under investigation, a member being charged through an internal investigation, a leadership crisis, and several more traumatic events.
After a very difficult 2015, Bob and his team changed their focus to "the two M's: the Mission and the Members” after realizing how many first responders are being hurt by the work they do. Since then, Bob has been working to change how we can run our agencies so members stay well throughout their entire career.
Tune in as Bob shares his key learnings through his experiences, both personally and profes…
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Apr 2, 2019
Coping with the Suicide of a Loved One and a Near-Fatal Accident
In this week’s episode, Retired Sergeant Chris Borgstede joins the podcast to speak with Chief Neil Dubord about the impactful experiences in his life — both personally and professionally.
Chris has been a longtime member of the Delta Police Department, starting his career back in 1992. Previously, Chris was a lawyer, but decided to make the career switch and found his true passion in policing. Chris is now coming up on his 26th year with the department and will be retiring this month. He’s had a career full of rich experiences and was a fantastic cop.
With Chief Neil Dubord today, Chris shares some of the significant struggles that he has gone through; an incredibly difficult relationship, a nearly fatal motorcycle accident, a diagnosis of pancreatitis, and a suicide.
Listen in to hear all of the lessons Chris has learned personally and throughout his career — and hopefully, you can apply some of these takeaways to your own life as well.
Key Takeaways:
[:43] Chief Neil Du…
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Jan 29, 2019
The Challenge of a Lifetime: Delta Police Sergeant Ray Athwal’s Wait for a New Heart
Sergeant Ray Athwal joins Chief Neil Dubord on this week’s episode of Bend Don’t Break. Ray Athwal is 49, married for 23 years, and has two teenage boys. Professionally, he has spent 19 years with DBD. Ray enjoys spending his days motorcycling, socializing with friends and family, and accompanying his children to their hockey and lacrosse games.
On the fateful day of May 8th, 2016; mother’s day, his and his family’s lives were changed forever. His wife suffered a major heart attack that developed into heart failure, leading to many surgeries and a wait for a new heart. With her rare blood-type and the many ups and downs that come with waiting on any kind of transplant, their journey was not an easy one.
In this episode, Ray talks about the challenges they faced together as a family and how he helped support his wife, children, and himself in trying times. This is a story of perseverance, resiliency, family, support, hope, and love.
Key Takeaways:
[:45] Ray talks about his m…
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Jan 13, 2019
Part 2 : The Starlight Casino Shooting and the Murder Charge that Followed
On this episode of Bend Don’t Break, your host, Chief Neil Dubord, is joined by Delta Police Officer, Constable Jordan MacWilliams once again, to continue his story from last week’s episode.
Jordan has gone through significant events over the last several years — making him the perfect person to discuss the topic of resiliency in the field.
His story starts on November 8th, 2012, a fateful night in both his life and work. Having been sent to a dangerous hostage situation at Starlight Casino, Jordan has to make one of the toughest decisions of his life for the safety of his colleagues. In this episode, Jordan outlines the events that followed this event: his court appearances, avoiding the media, and managing his stress, emotions, and feelings around the whole ordeal. He also highlights key factors in how he managed to overcome his struggles surrounding the situation and gives advice on how to get through similar situations.
Key Takeaways:
[:43] Chief Neil Dubord recaps last w…
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Dec 18, 2018
The Starlight Casino Shooting and the Murder Charge that Followed
Today on Bend Don’t Break, your host, Chief Neil Dubord, is joined by Delta Police Officer, Constable Jordan MacWilliams.
Jordan has gone through significant events over the last several years — making him the perfect person to discuss the topic of resiliency in the field. He’s happily married with two young daughters. Currently, he’s seconded, working at The Lower Mainland District Emergency Response Team. He joined the Delta Police Department as a Reserve Constable back in 2007, graduated in 2009, and then worked Patrol until 2012 when he got onto the Emergency Response Team.
Jordan’s story starts on November 8th, 2012, a fateful night in both his life and work. Having been sent to a dangerous hostage situation at Starlight Casino, Jordan has to make one of the toughest decisions of his life for the safety of his colleagues. In this podcast, Jordan details the event that changed his life; how he dealt with it in the following days, months, and years; his thoughts and emot…
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Nov 9, 2018
On the Brink of Losing Your Job, Your Health, and Your Father: Delta Police Constable Aaron Hill’s Lesson in Resiliency
Welcome to Bend Don’t Break — a Delta Police podcast on police officers using the power of storytelling to strengthen their resiliency — with your host, Chief Neil Dubord. In this episode, Chief Dubord is joined by Delta Police Officer, Constable Aaron Hill, to bravely share his story in its entirety.
Aaron’s story greatly reflects the themes of this podcast: resiliency and overcoming incredible challenges. His story provides significant lessons and key takeaways that can be applied to anyone — regardless of position, career, or aspirations.
His story starts back in 2011, when he was the subject of an excessive use of force complaint. During that process, he also received a deceit allegation which threatened his career as a police officer. Amidst that, he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and found out his father’s health was on the decline. With his aspirations headed towards a SWAT Operator he began to lose hope — but through it all, he persevered.
Join Chief Dubord…
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