06/06/2026
I learned ALOT in training this week. This course focused on Mental Health, the many types of disorders, contributing factors and coping mechanisms for such disease, the stigmas attached for such, medications 💊 that assist in treatment, substance use, voluntary and involuntary admits, petitions, laws and legal issues, and most importantly testimony from many lives that have lived through such despair, deep frustration and aggravation.
We heard from a man that previously served in our military who suffered with mental illness and then became an alcoholic. He admitted his past mistakes and told us how he destroyed his life. He referred to himself as a looser and a F-up. That was painful to hear as his mental illness was clearly evident. His testimony was powerful.
We heard from a grieving mother who luckily still has her son but doesn’t have her son, if that makes sense. Her son was a normal boy growing up and highly intelligent. He received several scholarships to attend college. While in college his mental health issues became more evident and he turned to substance use as a coping mechanism. He eventually turned a knife on his own mother and threatened to harm her. He’s been in and out of residential treatment centers but there are no long term treatment centers anymore and they medicate them and release them only fixing the problems temporarily. Her husband is a retired police officer and couldn’t help either. Her son’s mental health issues has affected the entire family. Her pain was palpable and just sad as she has no long term fix for her son. She loves her son and wants what’s best for him but he’s also a danger to be around.
We also heard from a highly intelligent gentleman that was a former drug addict himself but has now changed his life around, received his doctorate degree and is a leading expert on mental health issues, substance use and everything encompassing the matters. This man has a son that is a police officer now and he’s super proud of him. He also spoke about how the police treated him with mercy, compassion and grace and gave him a chance to fix his life or go to prison based off the case they had against him. He turned his life around and never went back to his old self. He also spoke about the shame he bared for his previous actions and the pain he endured when his own family turned their backs on him. He spoke about the hurt and anger he has when he hears folks use such derogatory statements about drug addiction such as “ m**h heads and crack heads” . He spoke about how it makes him feel and how it affects the addicts when they hear such terms. He told us how powerful it is to these folks when we show them compassion instead of hate, ridicule and scorn. We can still hold these folks accountable but not degrade them. NOBDY grows up and says “ my desire is to be mentally ill and have substance use issues”. Nobody does that.
A very powerful important book 📕 that I’ve partially read that has scripture and states “ inas much as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, you have done ✅ it unto me” . That’s extremely powerful and I’m sure you’re aware of the book I’m referring too. We’re all flawed. We all need to be humbled. None of us is perfect nor deserving of anything. Let’s be cautious and never refer to individuals as m**h heads and crack heads. Let us show compassion and try to assist them. If it means holding them accountable and taking them to jail then so be it but let us do so in a manner to help and not degrade. Our desire is to help and if that means that they need to detox in a jail cell then so be it but let us show compassion and respect. 🫡 . I’m far from perfect myself but I’m learning and a work in progress.
Lastly, let me please add cause this is extremely important- as police officers we deal with trauma. A lot of trauma. The trauma ( speaking mostly about su***de calls and child s*x case) destroys these families and that’s what hurts the most. Seeing these mothers and fathers utterly destroyed is heartbreaking 💔 and life shattering. The kid that turned the gun on himself and his parents that found him you never forget. The man son laying dead ☠️ in the field and his mother holding his head in her lap as she sat beside his lifeless body caressed his hair, held him and wept loudly and the knowledge that we had that they had lost a very young daughter to a gun- su***de. The fatal car wrecks. Mental Health is real. It’s no joke! If anything, let’s at least be a lot wiser and kinder. We don’t know the chains ⛓️💥 these folks bear so who are we to disregard their life and purpose on this earth and toss them away calling them a crack head and a m**h head. That’s someone’s son, daughter, or family member. I’m guilty of it myself as well. We must be wiser, kinder, more empathetic, more understanding and better people. Remember, our Heavenly Father is watching and my guess is he sure weeps a lot. Let us do better!!!!
Chief Dan Cheadle
