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A Fort Worth Police Department bodycam video showing officers and bystanders lifting an overturned car to rescue an infant has struck a chord across law enforcement, not only for its heroics, but for the emotions it stirs. In this Wellness Brief, Police1 Editorial Director Greg Friese and Lexipol Wellness’s Emily Hitchings explore both the inspiration and the stress that can come from watching such intense footage.
“Kudos, just absolute heroics,” Hitchings said. “This is what it’s all about … these officers showed up and absolutely acted incredibly. They took swift action, they didn’t wait, and that’s probably what saved that baby.”
Hitchings noted that while such outcomes are uplifting, officers should also recognize that viewing traumatic or realistic scenes may not be beneficial. “We need to be aware of our limits and do a self-check. Why am I watching this? Is this helpful overall for my career, or am I just vicariously traumatizing myself?” Hitchings said.
Friese agreed that not all videos are educational or necessary to view, but that celebrating success stories can help officers stay grounded in their purpose. “We need to let these good stories sink in … to remind ourselves why we do this job in the first place,” Hitchings added.
“Let it be something like this, where you take a second and go, this is why we do this. This is why we do this job.”
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About The Brief: Wellness Edition
The Brief: Wellness Edition video series explores the wellness implications of current events for public safety professionals. Each episode brings a timely conversation that connects unfolding events to the day-to-day realities of first responders.
