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After trauma, one officer is pushing a bill to make sure cops get the support they need

“[In the movies], there’s no emotional impact at all. That’s just not the case,” said former deputy Jim Creed

Jim Creed

WBUR

By Suzie Ziegler

TAUNTON, Mass. — Six years ago, Jim Creed was out to dinner with his wife when a knife-wielding man began attacking customers. Creed, who was then a deputy with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, drew his gun, told the man to drop the knife, and, when the attacker refused, fatally shot him.

Creed was hailed a hero, but that’s when his troubles began, reported WBUR. Creed and his wife were deeply affected by the violent incident. The day after, Creed began feeling sick. He said it was the adrenaline leaving his body.

“I just had really bad stomach pains,” he said. “I ended up pretty much laying on my bathroom floor for about two or three hours that day, just kind of in pain, not knowing what was going on.”

According to experts, it’s very common for officers to struggle emotionally after experiencing a traumatic event. And they don’t always get help.

Sherri Martin, a former cop who leads the national FOP’s wellness division, says situations like the one Creed experienced are very difficult to process.

“Even when it’s handled well, it’s difficult for the individual,” Martin told WBUR.

Now, Creed is sharing his story and pushing for a bill that would give more support to officers in Massachusetts. House Bill 3845 would require police agencies to create programs to help officers and their families process trauma. The programs would include educating officers on what to expect if they experience a traumatic event.

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State Rep. Kathy LaNatra sponsored the bill after learning of Creed’s story. LaNatra, who is married to a police officer, says she knows firsthand the toll the job can take on loved ones.

“Law enforcement officers are trained to kind of like, suck that up,” she told WBUR. “With this bill, it will really insist that they do get the help that they need.”

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LaNatra’s bill has been approved by the joint public safety committee and awaits another committee vote, according to the report.

Creed wants everyone to know police shootings aren’t like the movies. In movies, the officer will return to the station after a shootout, joke about it and then go right back out to hunting bad guys, Creed told WBUR.

"[In the movies], there’s three more shootings, and there’s no emotional impact at all,” he said. “That’s just not the case.”

Yet Creed considers himself lucky because he did get the support he needed from his job, his family and his co-workers.

“I don’t think I would still be working in law enforcement if I didn’t get the help I received,” he said.

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