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Sergeant Sean Fuerstenberg’s article, “The silence after the badge: A sergeant’s blunt truth about retirement,” is a viral sensation, attracting readers from Police1 and beyond. Hundreds of readers have written Police1, echoing the words of the article and how they’ve found peace (or not) in retirement. One reader wrote, “Your legacy only lives on with the knowledge you pass on to others. My end is near, and I’m extremely nervous about what to do with my time. Work is all I’ve ever known.”
In this episode of The Brief: Wellness Edition, Emily Hitchings and Greg Friese discuss the reality of life after law enforcement and finding purpose beyond the badge. Hear Hitching’s honest reflections on retirement, identity and rediscovering meaning through new ways of serving. It’s an inspiring look at resilience and life after the uniform.
Hitchings shares her own experience of being told at the start and the end of her law enforcement career “that everybody is replaceable.”
Listen to their discussion, read the article and share how you are preparing yourself — not just financially but personally — for the day the radio goes silent?
“It doesn’t mean that the work is less noble. It’s more about preparing people that this is what happens and it’s normal.”
| NEXT STEPS: Secure your financial future: A first responder’s guide to money management
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.
