Here is our follow up to episode 5 on Heroes at Work, in our season finale.   Gabe edited the original 911 call, radio traffic, calls to the would-be killer's mother, along with the audio from the award presented to the Lawsons from Chief Shearer.   We share the terrifying details the detectives discovered in the would-be kidnapper's AirB&B.   After 28 years, I had the privilege to meet the Lawsons in persons and thank them with tears from the deep knowing of their amazing act of heroism.   I was honored to have been a part of the process to stop this evil man's plan.  My co-worker Shelly and the officers, sergeants, detectives, and all the law enforcement community came together to stop the plans of Tanner Hoover.  We hope you find the story interesting.  See you in February for more Echo of Connections.  Drop us a note, question or comment:  https://podpage.com/echo-of-connectionsA shout out to our music makers from Pixbay: Music by EvgenyBardyuzha from PixabayMusic by ComaStudio from PixabayThanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/

Welcome Shannon Seulement!  She has 34 years as a police dispatcher and plenty of stories to share. I am thrilled to share my mentor and trainers experiences with all of you. 14 mins - longevity 15 min - team environment 16 min - importance of briefing together and then facing person 17 min - from teacher to dispatcher in 1989 19 min - shocking parts of being new dispatcher-  callers with mental health20 min - Thanksgiving murders 22 min - Halloween riots24  mins- the story is different to dispatch vs when offices talk to people face to face 25 min - suicidal male with a shot gun in his mouth.  Shannon works on getting the female past the male and outside to safety.  27 min-  the truth comes out, the female was hiding a male in the closet upstairs.29 mins -1st responders are dispatchers, CIT training32 mins- how police and schools are similar.33 min -how to talk to people and listening to the background noises.34 min- voice of experience 40 min- the value of direct communications from dispatch to officer42 mins - importance of confirming information43 mins- Shannons Business : Dog Days Studio - creative outlet to work through trauma49 mins- commit a crime to get mental health help50 mins- mental health, covid crisis51 mins-asking someone if they are suicidal does not make them commit suicide. 52 mins- staffing issues create stress on dispatchers.  learning how to let it go. 53 mins- get people on their worst day 54 mins- grateful citizens :) we love them55 mins-70,000 people we are still a small town that helps each other, our community 56 mins- Shannons words of wisdom for a new dispatcher or younger self–have the right personality, have to have a hard shell, careful the hard shell does not become who you are. 57 mins highs and lows 58 mins-lower our expectations, if I am disappointed in anyway, I did not have low enough expectations.60 mins- catching people doing something wrong, instead of training to an expectations.  61 mins- dangers of lower our expectations. 61 mins- is 99% good enough?  Thanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/

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Meet Conner O'Leary, the amazing story teller, who shares his journey from the Marines to Police Officer.  He takes us on his journey as he finds his way into police work and eventually becomes a K-9 Handler.  Conner’s first deployment with K-9 Kirby is a heroic tale told with cinematic appeal.  We hope you enjoy his fabulous storytelling.  Bring on the questions and comments! Thanks for listening!Thanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/

Join us as we talk to Alex and Leah Blankenship, two of Gabe's friends as we get a younger prospective from trying out for the police force and a brief look into the world of studying the brain.https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/Thanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/

Strengthening Your Mental Armor Join us as we talk to Stephanie Conn, PhD, author of Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel, Strengthening Your Mental Armor, and founder of First Responder Psychology.   Stephanie shares her experiences as a daughter of a police officer, her path as a dispatcher/call-taker, her years as a police officer in Fort Worth, on her way to becoming a clinician and researcher specializing in  police stress, trauma, and finding resilience.  I had the distinct pleasure of attending a lecture Stephanie gave at a wellness symposium for emergency service unions and management.  Her real-world examples, along with her dynamic presentation brought her book to life.  I purchased Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel, Strengthening Your Mental Armor and was honored to have Stephanie sign it :).  I couldn’t wait to share her material about police family members with Gabe.  When I got back to work, I had a chance to read Stephanie's explanation of burnout to my co-worker Tracey, (found on pages 114-120). Tracey and I were so moved by her lists, we cried, we laughed, and we decided to make the changes Stephanie suggested.  You can hear about our journey on Episode 2 (link down below).  Further chapters on relations and recovery, secondary traumatic stress, catching the sneaky resilience thief,  building mental armor, and help to be resilient all build a complete picture of the struggles in emergency services and the ways to combat the drains.  Interviewing Stephanie Conn was a true honor and inspiration moment for me.  She has done so much and continues to find ways to improve services in her private practice to allow first responders to find help from their own homes.   I look forward to having her continue the research, assistance, and education she brings to the emergency services professions, which is in deep need of true compassion and understanding.  Links:  https://firstresponderpsychology.com/ You can purchase Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel, Strengthening Your Mental Armor.Read Stephanie Conn’s bioFind HELPhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7xFkTxXgfss9AGg8j2e8bg?si=3pcQBvAiQOWAeb1m-tL5nQ&utm_source=copy-link Episode 2 Tracey Komisar on Burnouthttps://podpage.com/echo-of-connectionsechoofconnections@gmail.comLike us, Subscribe, Comment, Questions?  Thanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/

Tina Pardee is a 16 year police dispatcher who wears many more hats. She is a mother of 2 children, who managed single parenting during her kids teen years.  She married a police officer and along the way became an instructor in many areas.  Tina is the administer of the Perfex Test for the hiring process.  She trains the field training officers on how to work to maintain the State of Oregon’s FTEP standards, as well as a Field Training Officer who trains dispatchers.Tina is an instructor for Crisis Intervention Team and since attending training in September she is a coordinator: https://nami.org/Advocacy/Crisis-Intervention/Crisis-Intervention-Team-(CIT)-ProgramsTina has also an instructor for Mental Health First Aidhttps://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/Tina is also married to a police officer.  They keep their work and home life separate.  Tina shares learning about working out stress relief strategies together.  Tina reviewed “Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship by Cyndi Doyle, LPC-S.  Thanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/

Tony Biglan, PhD, is a Retired Senior Research Scientist from Oregon Research Institute and President of Values to Action.  https://www.valuestoaction.org/. Join Gabe and Dawn as we learn from a leading figure in the development of prevention science, Tony Biglan. He has over thirty years of research to identify effective family, school, and community interventions to prevent the most common and costly problems of childhood and adolescence.  He acknowledges the need to move social issues to social services and away from police interventions.  As police agencies become more taxed with social problems Tony has scientifically proven approaches for schools and parents. Join us as we learn about Tony’s Values to Action Tony is the author of Rebooting Capitalism: How We Can Forge a Society That Works for Everyone, and The Nurture Effect: How the Science of Human Behavior Can Improve Our Lives and Our World. Links to Tony’s Books:  https://www.amazon.com/Rebooting-Capitalism-Forge-Society-Everyone/dp/057869090X#:~:text=In%20REBOOTING%20CAPITALISM%20Anthony%20Biglan,all%20members%20of%20society%20thrivehttps://www.amazon.com/Nurture-Effect-Science-Behavior-Improve/dp/168403180X/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=168403180X&psc=1Nurture Effect YouTube https://youtu.be/mhV5Ag4bCuITony’s full list of published works: http://www.ori.org/scientists/anthony_biglan Tony’s refers to : Positive Parenting Programs https://www.lanekids.org/triplep/OPEC https://orparenting.org/https://www.paxis.org/school-based-programming/ https://youtu.be/dLJiQIqL2Us Yamill Co, Oregon - PAX Good Behavior Game in ActionDennis Embry  https://www.paxis.org/dr-pax/ Tucson, AZ https://www.facebook.com/paxisinstituteValues to Action - Action Circle $1 gets you $64 needed to help communities that pinpoint their Yamill Co has a community Action Circle going. Psychological flexibility: How love turns pain into purpose | Steven Hayes | TEDxUniversityofNevadahttps://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Do79_gmO5ppg&ved=2ahUKEwju2qCz1735AhUhK0QIHaJaDcwQtwJ6BAgbEAI&usg=AOvVaw3BkdHT_2zjzpcI1_QDuhULhttps://nam.edu/  National Academy of Medicine, Nurturing Environments - minimize toxic social & biological impactsPsychological flexibility - keeping distance from, how it feels in the body, YOU the observer self is different from defused, see the thoughts and notice them.  Defuse is a skill, the focus of life is to not feeling anxious.  If you don’t want it you got it. ACT -Kelly Wilson  https://youtu.be/VL0E7fBVTfgHappiness Trap,  Dr. Russ Harris - accepting feelings: httpThanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/

Tony Biglan, PhD, is a Retired Senior Research Scientist from Oregon Research Institute and President of Values to Action.  https://www.valuestoaction.org/. Join Gabe and Dawn as we learn from a leading figure in the development of prevention science, Tony Biglan. He has over thirty years of research to identify effective family, school, and community interventions to prevent the most common and costly problems of childhood and adolescence.  He acknowledges the need to move social issues to social services and away from police interventions.  As police agencies become more taxed with social problems Tony has scientifically proven approaches for schools and parents. Join us as we learn about Tony’s Values to Action Tony is the author of Rebooting Capitalism: How We Can Forge a Society That Works for Everyone, and The Nurture Effect: How the Science of Human Behavior Can Improve Our Lives and Our World. Links to Tony’s Books:  https://www.amazon.com/Rebooting-Capitalism-Forge-Society-Everyone/dp/057869090X#:~:text=In%20REBOOTING%20CAPITALISM%20Anthony%20Biglan,all%20members%20of%20society%20thrivehttps://www.amazon.com/Nurture-Effect-Science-Behavior-Improve/dp/168403180X/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=168403180X&psc=1Nurture Effect YouTube https://youtu.be/mhV5Ag4bCuITony’s full list of published works: http://www.ori.org/scientists/anthony_biglan Tony’s refers to : Positive Parenting Programs https://www.lanekids.org/triplep/OPEC https://orparenting.org/https://www.paxis.org/school-based-programming/ https://youtu.be/dLJiQIqL2Us Yamill Co, Oregon - PAX Good Behavior Game in ActionDennis Embry  https://www.paxis.org/dr-pax/ Tucson, AZ https://www.facebook.com/paxisinstituteValues to Action - Action Circle $1 gets you $64 needed to help communities that pinpoint their Yamill Co has a community Action Circle going. Psychological flexibility: How love turns pain into purpose | Steven Hayes | TEDxUniversityofNevadahttps://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Do79_gmO5ppg&ved=2ahUKEwju2qCz1735AhUhK0QIHaJaDcwQtwJ6BAgbEAI&usg=AOvVaw3BkdHT_2zjzpcI1_QDuhULhttps://nam.edu/  National Academy of Medicine, Nurturing Environments - minimize toxic social & biological impactsPsychological flexibility - keeping distance from, how it feels in the body, YOU the observer self is different from defused, see the thoughts and notice them.  Defuse is a skill, the focus of life is to not feeling anxious.  If you don’t want it you got it. ACT -Kelly Wilson  https://youtu.be/VL0E7fBVTfgHappiness Trap,  Dr. Russ Harris - accepting feelings: httpThanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/

We are thrilled to present Tanner and Mandy Bazer as we talk to them about family life in emergency services.  Listen to the amazing strategies they employ to help each other and their family stay grounded, through shift work, SWAT calls, and FTO training.   Mandy recognizes when Tanner needs his time hunting.  Tanner knows when it is time for Mandy to have a SPA Day.   Here's to staying connected through the trauma of police life. Theme song: https://pixabay.com/music/beats-jazzy-abstract-beat-11254/ Thanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/

Heroes at WorkGabe listens and asks questions as I take him back to 1998, where I was a four year call taker. The Thurston High School shooting was my first big event in law enforcement. Gabe was surprised by the technology and logistical issues, as was I looking back ;).    After the worst call of my four year career, I didn’t know what to expect.  I felt the emotional rollercoaster most of us experience but, I did not understand how much it affected me. It was years later I put it all together.  Secondary trauma– having a name for it is so powerful. Gabe puts in gaming terms, trauma is like d8 medium damage in D&D.  “There’s a pool of health and there is only so much you can take,” Gabe explains.Gabe and I had shared our plans in case he ended up in a school shooting. We go on to share our Miracle story of true heroes.  Two angel citizens who saved a girl from a would-be kidnapper.  They called 911 as they were in pursuit of the suspect who tried to snatch a child. I was privileged to take their call and provide the link between them and the officers burning down the roads to get to the suspect.  Thanks to these amazing citizens they made sure he did not get away. The bad guy did not stand a chance as all agencies were ON IT.   NOT ON OUR WATCH.   I am eternally grateful for the citizens and officers' combined efforts to save this little girl.   Being the right person at the right time and acting without worry for oneself is a true hero.  Blessed are the Good Samaritans.  Our Theme song: https://pixabay.com/music/beats-jazzy-abstract-beat-11254/LINKS: Dr. Les Carter Surviving Narcissism https://youtu.be/q7Dnqxqoo5oWalter Cronkite https://g.co/kgs/115ZCTFRONTLINE  on Kipland Kinkel, The Killer at Thurston High School https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/kinkel/President Clinton comes to Springfield, Oregon to pay respects to the families to Thurston High School shooting. https://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/06/13/clinton.radio/Springfield Police: Suspect in attempted child abduction killed self as officers closed inhttps://nbc16.com/news/local/springfield-police-suspect-in-attempted-child-abduction-killed-self-as-officers-closed-in24 Self-Soothing Techniques https://positivepsychology.com/self-soothing/Thanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/

We welcome Helene Dubov, a Clinical Social Work/Therapist, to Echo of Connections.   She gives us the background on EMDR therapy  basics on how it started and how it works.   Helene gives us an overview of the process and the foundation needed for using EMDR.   Trauma, what is it?  Helene gives us an easy answer to remember. Helene recommends EMDR for processing trauma in a way that integrates the mind and the body.   We found Helene full of inspirational information that brought us both hope for our healing journey.   We trust you will find her insights useful to finding reslience.  Helene Dubov https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/helene-dubov-north-bethesda-md/43992The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma https://a.co/d/8ifpzjqButterfly Hug:  https://youtu.be/xUufXf_cTecFor EMDR for First Responders: https://www.emdria.org/group/emdr-for-first-responders-protective-services-personnel/Thanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/

Dawn just got back from training in Florida presented by Labor Relations Information System (LRIS).  Dawn discusses labor laws that protect employees health related issues as taught by Will Aitchison from LRIS.  After hearing LRIS guest speakers share their expierence and knowledge on how to help employees with the stress Dawn a better understanding on what helps us thru  trauma public safety employees deal with on a day to day basis.  Dawn  shares a recent example of trauma.    Gabe shares his goals.  Gabe and Dawn highlight future guests and topics.Our episodes are little out of order.  Gabe and Dawn talk in this episode about our guest Tracey Komisar who was Episode 2.  Thanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/

Our first very special guest, Tracey Komisar joins us to share her 29 years of working as a dispatcher at 911 and police dispatcher.  She shares her most difficult call of her career, a school shooting,  along with her ability to compartmentalize to make it through big incidents.  Tracey and Dawn explore their recent revelations after Dawn attended training with Dr. Stephanie Conn.  Dawn and Tracey share how Dr. Dr. Conn's book,  Increasing Resilience in Police and Emergency Personnel, brought Tracey an important change for the better in her life.  Gabe shares the  laughs, deep thoughts, and powerful connections together as we find our way through trauma.  Please check out :   Dr. Stephanie Conn https://g.co/kgs/7abyHP Thurston High School shooting:  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eFImEWh497cThanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/

Gabe and Dawn try to talk about their origin story, but get distracted by 2020.  2020 is full of wild fires, protests turning to riots,  siege of our police department, covid shut downs, and moving out after a 27 year marriage.   Lots of big changes overshadowed our origin story to create the mayhem of this episode.   We hope you enjoy!  Our next episode is coming out June 3rd with our special guest Tracey Komisar!  She shares her 29 years of experience as a 911 and Police Communications Officer and recent breakthrough she had in  understanding burnout.  Thanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/

Gabe and Dawn Hansen team up to discuss trauma and building resilience in emergency services.  Dawn has worked as a police dispatcher for 28 years.  Gabe was born into a life of crazy shiftwork, stressful work, and being in the center of true crime as it unfolds.  Gabe has observed the effects of trauma on Dawn and as a result on him as well.   We team up to find out why we have survived and how we can help others survive to thrive.  Why Episode Zero?  0?  Have you ever talked about doing something for a few days, months, or maybe years?   Then when it comes time to do the action the talk was all about, you're all over the place?  Gabe and I were so excited to record Episode 1 "Origin" that we were all over the place.  After Gabe had edited the content, he came to me and gently mentioned the need for a prequel.  Here is our focused introduction to us and our hopes for future episodes with special guest stars.  Thanks for Listening. Leave Us a Message https://www.podpage.com/echo-of-connections/