The Ripple Effect of Trauma

Think about a rock being thrown into a pond. It creates a number of ripples. Nowi magine each ripple as a different group of people connected and impacted by a tragedy. Victims are in the middle, then their family, then witnesses, and then community.

But what about the outermost ripples? Who pays attention to and supports those working in and around law enforcement — those people who answer the emergency phone call to 9-1-1; those who respond to the scene to render aid and create safety; those who process the scene and the deceased; and those who work in the aftermath to bring justice to victims of crime? These are our forgotten, and sometimes invisible, law enforcement warriors.

Who asks a dispatcher, a forensic scientist, a crime scene investigator, or a coroner investigator how they are doing after a gruesome crime has beencommitted? What about the victim advocate who works with the victim’s family after a tragedy? Who do they talk to? Who gives them permission to be human in the aftermath of tragedy?

Even the most resilient warriors working in law enforcement have moments when they feel helpless, angry, sad, lonely, and broken. For decades, the culture of law enforcement implied that if you are strong, you do not hurt. If you hurt, you must be weak; and if you are weak, you can’t be a good partner on duty or off. Perceived weakness even prohibited promotion.

It is time to challenge that belief system. Out of respect for the men and women who serve and protect our communities, it is time to break down that stigma by creating a paradigm shift — one that says that it is an act of strength to be able to talk about what bothers you.

Strength comes in different formats. Strength is growth that can occur after trauma. Strength can be vulnerability and tears. Strength is when you keep working toward healing even when it’s emotionally painful. Strength is saying, “I’m sorry and I will learn to do things better for the good of everyone around me.” Strength is choosing not to live a numb life, avoiding pain, and hurting those around you.

There is no doubt that this job changes you, but it doesn’t have to define who you are. You can choose not to give up your core self and let the job take your soul. You have a right to choose to take back control and live the happiest life possible. You have the right to resiliency.

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Excerpted from "Body, Mind, and Badge: Strategies for Navigating Trauma and Resilience in Law Enforcement," by Kathryn Hamel, PhD. The book focuses on two imperative components of law enforcement wellness: physical fitness and resiliency. Cultivating both will allow law enforcement personnel to cope with the stress and trauma of critical incidents and come out on the other side of the event a more resilient version of themselves

Dr. Kathryn Hamel, Ph.D., is the Chief Executive Officer of The Hecht Trauma Institute (HTI). The mission of HTI is to provide education, information, and services to empower and support people affected by trauma.

Kathryn is a retired law-enforcement lieutenant, distinguished academic, dedicated philanthropist, sought-after speaker, and author of Body, Mind, and Badge: Strategies for Navigating Trauma & Resilience in Law Enforcement.

During her 25-year career as an active-duty law-enforcement officer, she investigated hundreds of cases involving rape, domestic assault, child sexual abuse, and other forms of violence. Her caseload enabled her to assist victims of these traumatic events in navigating the criminal justice system while seeking justice on their behalf.

She is a regular presenter at national and international conferences related to trauma, abuse, suicide prevention, and interpersonal violence.

Preparing for a post-law enforcement career, she earned a vocational teaching credential, a level 1 and level 2 trauma and resilience certification from Florida State University, and a doctorate in Public Safety Leadership from Capella University. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Chapman University and a Bachelor of Arts in Occupational Studies and Vocational Education from California State University, Long Beach.

Transitioning from law enforcement to academia, California Southern University recruited her to serve as the Dean of the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology. She was later promoted to Senior Vice-President of Human Resources and Organizational Development. Concurrently, Kathryn was also responsible for creating and implementing an 18-month post-graduate leadership academy.

A committed community volunteer, she has almost three decades of experience guiding non-profit and charitable organizations. She is currently a Board Member of KinderVision; a nonprofit co-founded by her late mother, Ashby Sebastian, dedicated to mitigating childhood exploitation and sexual abuse.  

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