In this deeply personal interview, Police Captain, Adam Meyers bravely shares his journey following a critical shooting incident in 2016, the subsequent struggles with trauma, depression, and unhealthy coping mechanisms, and his eventual path to recovery and mental health advocacy. This powerful conversation cuts through the often stoic exterior of law enforcement to reveal the emotional and psychological toll that high-stress professions can take. Captain Meyers opens up about the silence and stigma surrounding mental health, particularly within the police force, and the challenges he faced in seeking help. He candidly discusses his experiences with substance abuse, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts, highlighting the desperate measures he took while suffering in silence.

In this powerful episode of 8158: Stories of Sacrifice, we sit down with Adam Meyers, a dedicated law enforcement officer who faced a life-altering critical incident in 2016. Adam takes us back to the beginning—sharing his journey into law enforcement, the events leading up to that fateful day, and how it changed his life forever. Through resilience, courage, and a commitment to breaking the stigma around mental health, Adam’s story is one of survival, recovery, and advocacy. Tune in for an unforgettable conversation about the realities first responders face and the support they deserve. 💙

In the early spring of 2025 I was contacted by a Captain of a local police department. As a Licensed Professional Counselor, typically people reach out to me seeking therapy for themselves or a loved one. This is not what Captain Adam Meyers was seeking. Nor was he contacting me regarding any official police business. Captain Adam Meyers was reaching out to share his story in hopes that his experiences may help others understand what they’re going through, recognize that they are not alone, and find ways to cope effectively.

I arrived at became work and, upon exiting my vehicle, I masterfully played the role of the “sick employee”. I walked into the police department and made myself vomit in the bathroom. I made sure the bathroom door remained open so that anyone walking by could see or hear me. I made sure that not all my vomit made it into the toilet and landed on the floor for added effect. I was immediately sent home.

In this powerful episode of The Hope Matrix, Kathryn Goetzke speaks with Adam Meyers, a police captain and mental health advocate, about his journey through trauma and Shine Hope Story. Adam opens up about his childhood dream of becoming a police officer, the challenges he faced with learning disabilities, and his eventual success in law enforcement.

This week, we’re talking to Adam Meyers, a Police Captain, Certified Peer Specialist, and Mental Health Advocate, who turned his own struggles into a mission. ✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Law enforcement mental health challenges—why so many officers suffer in silence. 💭 PTSD and trauma recovery—how to heal and move forward. 🔥 Breaking the stigma—why seeking help is NOT a sign of weakness. 🛑 Workplace mental health—how stress impacts first responders and professionals in high-pressure careers. 💡 Practical coping strategies—how to manage stress, anxiety, and burnout. 💭 Struggling with work stress, burnout, or trauma? You’re not alone. Whether you’re in law enforcement, a high-stress job, or just feeling overwhelmed, this episode will give you real strategies for mental resilience.

I arrived at became work and, upon exiting my vehicle, I masterfully played the role of the “sick employee”. I walked into the police department and made myself vomit in the bathroom. I made sure the bathroom door remained open so that anyone walking by could see or hear me. I made sure that not all my vomit made it into the toilet and landed on the floor for added effect. I was immediately sent home.

I arrived at became work and, upon exiting my vehicle, I masterfully played the role of the “sick employee”. I walked into the police department and made myself vomit in the bathroom. I made sure the bathroom door remained open so that anyone walking by could see or hear me. I made sure that not all my vomit made it into the toilet and landed on the floor for added effect. I was immediately sent home.

My name is Adam and I have been a Police Officer in Wisconsin for 23 years. I am also a Certified Peer Specialist in Wisconsin. I began my law enforcement career in 2001 after serving as an active duty United States Army Military Policeman. In April 2016, I was involved in a critical incident that changed my life forever when I used deadly force on someone who armed themselves with a hatchet inside a busy department store. This person died.

The issue of mental health is prominent everywhere and it is an issue that commands a new perspective. Without advocacy and awareness, we will continue to wait until the crisis stage to address mental health for Law Enforcement Professionals and by then it may be to late.

During this time, I was placed on a safety plan due to my suicidal ideations. I never explicitly planned to take my own life, but my behaviors suggested I was on a path of self-destruction. Despite making progress in therapy, my leave of absence was not extended, and in May 2022, I was given the option to resign or be terminated. I chose not to resign. I was fired.

One of my many poor coping strategies was abusing alcohol. Prior to my critical incident, I collected wine and enjoyed a glass every now and then. However, after my critical incident, I began abusing liquor, mainly whiskey and the cheapest vodka I could get my hands on. I would consume whiskey and vodka straight from their bottles, on the rocks, or I would create my own cocktails by combining over-the-counter liquid sleeping or liquid allergy medicines. There were times that I would mix in whatever leftover prescription medicines I had in the medicine cabinet, and it did not matter if they were prescribed to me or someone else. 

First responders are at a much higher risk of experiencing trauma, but less likely to reach out for mental health support. In this 5-minute clip from episodes 50 and 51 of OnTopic with Empathia Police Officer Adam Meyers, founder of Stop The Threat – Stop The Stigma, discusses law enforcement and public safety professionals’ mental health, sharing his own experiences. Adam dives deep into coping mechanisms and shares how none of them ultimately lead to the change needed to truly grow.

Wellness in the Woods is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides programs and activities centered on advocacy, education, and expanding statewide peer networks.

As an organization we are dedicated to improving access to mental health care and substance use recovery for all residents of Minnesota with a focus on reaching underserved communities.

I suffered in silence for many years after my critical incident and I am ashamed for the ways I poorly coped.  I find it hard to believe that nobody realized or even had a gut feeling that I was not doing well. I could not have been that good at hiding my poor coping strategies, or was I?   I have always wondered if people were slowly watching me self-destruct because they did not know what to say to me, how to help me, or they simply did not want to get involved.

What next? I had been diagnosed with a mental illness, on a safety plan, and terminated from a job I’ve wanted since I was a little boy. I had been employed with the police department for 14 years. What if I would have gone home and died by suicide. It was almost as if the police department washed their hands of me. I was ghosted by my co-workers. The same people who not only knew me professionally but personally. They knew my family, my daughters, helped me move, and even came to me with their own personal and professional mental health challenges. I would have died for them. I felt hopeless, helpless, and abandoned. I was devastated.

Read More Here… https://themindsjournal.com/readersblog/the-aftermath-of-a-first-responders-critical-incident/

With Nathan D. Thompson, Psy.D., ABPP Board Certified in Police and Public Safety Psychology National Register Health Service Psychologist & Captain Adam A. Meyers from Hartford, Wisconsin

Adam Meyers is a Police Captain with the Hartford Township Police Department in Washington County, Wisconsin and a Certified Peer Specialist in the state of Wisconsin. Adam began his Law Enforcement career in 2001 after five years as an active duty United States Army Military Policeman. Adam has been a Police Chief, Detective, Arson Investigator, Evidence Technician, Field Training Officer and is an Instructor in Firearms, Professional Communication Skills, Scenarios, and Officer Wellness.

There are many different coping strategies people may use after experiencing trauma. They may be good and healthy, or they may be negative and unhealthy. My coping strategies were negative, unhealthy, self-destructive, and dangerous. I used alcohol, marijuana, casual sex, and self-harm as some of my poor coping strategies for years after my critical incident.

Adam’s story of coping with his OIS and the different ways he struggled to return to his LE job in his own words.

We victims, survivors and warriors often have a tarnished history with law enforcement. We have so many stories and that sometimes leaves us feeling as though they are ALL bad. We easily forget that they are human too and they carry wounds we could never understand. Unbreakable is honored to have interviewed one brave warrior who is making it his mission to open the lines of communication within the ranks to talk about mental health and trauma. Giving our folks in BLUE a safe space to heal. Their healing not only helps them succeed in their daily life and careers as they put their lives in danger, but gives them a far better understanding of victims and survivors plight.

Adam Meyers, a Police Captain, Certified Peer Specialist, and Mental Health Advocate from Wisconsin, has over two decades of law enforcement experience, including roles as Police Chief and Instructor. After a life-changing 2016 critical incident involving deadly force, Adam overcame significant mental health challenges with support from loved ones and professionals. He founded Stop The Threat – Stop The Stigma to promote law enforcement wellness and foster open conversations about mental health, sharing his story globally to break the stigma.

Part 2 of a 2 Part Series. Thank you Kelly Parbs from Empathia, Inc. for inviting the Founder of Stop The Threat – Stop The Stigma Adam Meyers to speak about his Law enforcement related mental health experiences.

Serving the public can often take a toll on police officers and other first responders’ mental stability. Thankfully there are many programs and resources available to help with the burden, that is, if they choose to participate. Many don’t feel comfortable doing so and Police Captain Adam Meyers is here to explain why. Join us as we continue our conversation about stopping the stigma and encouraging public servants to reach out when they are in need.

Part 1 of a 2 Part Series. Thank you Kelly Parbs from Empathia, Inc. for inviting the Founder of Stop The Threat – Stop The Stigma Adam Meyers to speak about his Law enforcement related mental health experiences.

First responders are at a much higher risk of experiencing trauma, but sadly are less likely to reach out for mental health support. Adam Meyers experienced this firsthand and is determined to make a change with Stop The Threat – Stop The Stigma, a platform to promote Law Enforcement and Public Safety Professionals’ mental wellness, encouraging them to talk about their mental health and not suffer in silence.

How does a seasoned police officer navigate the mental health challenges that come with the job? Captain Adam Myers, an officer with over two decades of experience, opens up about his journey through trauma and recovery in the latest episode of United States of PTSD. He takes us on a gripping ride through the aftermath of a critical incident where he was forced to use deadly force, sharing the emotional turmoil and complexities of such life-altering events. Adam’s story is not just about the incident itself but also about the unhealthy coping mechanisms it triggered and his eventual path to healing.

Today, I am honored to introduce a truly remarkable guest, Captain Adam Meyers, a veteran law enforcement officer and mental health advocate from Wisconsin. Adam’s story is one of profound courage, resilience, and the power of vulnerability in healing.

Adam is an former police officer based in Hartford, Wisconsin – USA. After a critical incident at work he found himself struggling mentally. This story is Adam’s account of the experience and the years following. We’ve included it as we think it’s an important narrative about coping with adversity. Trigger warning: Mentions of substance misuse, alcohol, sex, suicide and a gun.

In this powerful episode of Shielded Voices, we sit down with Adam Meyers, a Wisconsin Police Captain, but most importantly, a dedicated advocate for the law enforcement and first responder community. Representing Stop the Threat – Stop the Stigma, Adam shares his mission to create awareness and foster resilience among those who serve on the front lines.

After using deadly force in the course of duty, a police officer entered a cycle of self-destructive behavior, using poor coping strategies for years before being diagnosed. He shares his story of mental health and recovery with Boomer readers in hopes that it can reach others.

What self-abuse looked like for a longtime officer — and how he overcame his struggles

My coping strategies were bad, unhealthy, self-destructive, and dangerous. I used alcohol, marijuana, casual sex, and self-harm as some of my poor coping strategies for years after my critical incident.

My poor coping strategies easily put my relationships, job, and health at risk, but I did not care. I wanted to escape from what I was feeling. I wanted to numb my emotions, my thoughts, my body, and any memory of taking someone’s life. I wanted to feel better even if only momentarily. I was selfish, reckless, and I did not care how my self-destructive and dangerous behavior may have affected my family, friends, children, co-workers, and the public.

The public safety profession is a high-stress environment that has been associated with mental health issues.

Public safety leaders must take a helpful approach when anyone in their command is struggling from mental health issues. Leaders should establish peer support groups and actively participate in them.

Good coping strategies I do now are eating healthy, walking, hiking, kayaking, being out in nature, spending quality time wtih family and friends, and sharing my experience with others.  I’m currently a Mental Health Crisis Worker in Southeastern Wisconsin.  My employer, supervisor, and co-workers are very supportive.

The issue of mental health is prominent everywhere in the public safety profession and it is an issue that commands a new perspective.

There are many different coping strategies people may use after experiencing trauma. They may be good and healthy, or they may be bad and unhealthy. My coping strategies were bad, unhealthy, self-destructive, and dangerous. I used alcohol, marijuana, casual sex, and self-harm as some of my poor coping strategies for years after my critical incident.

“I did not know the things I will do, the things I will see, the way they will affect me,” said Meyers. “I still have a desire and passion to help people, to be a peer specialist and share my experiences with others, and hope that it will help them.”

The experience plagued Meyers, a 20-year veteran officer, with feelings of guilt and trauma, inspiring him to found Stop the Threat – Stop the Stigma in 2020, an organization devoted to eliminating the stigma around speaking about mental health in a profession often linked to facing your fears daily and carrying on.

STOP THE STIGMA. Longtime law enforcement professional Adam Meyers was traumatized by his experience using deadly force against a civilian in 2016 in self-defense. Now, he helps others struggling with mental illness cope with traumatic circumstances or any type of mental illness in an effort to speak up and advocate for more conversations about mental health.

For over two decades, Adam served as a law enforcement officer in Wisconsin, facing the unimaginable challenges that come with the job. But one fateful day, he was involved in an officer-involved shooting. Although cleared of any wrongdoing, Adam’s life took a harrowing turn.

Adam is courageously candid and transparent not only about his traumatic incident, but also about his spiral down and subsequent recovery as he shares about the incident that changed his career and life, and why he decided to go public about his personal and professional mental health challenges related to this critical incident.

Sometimes when I talk about the shooting it affects me. I feel professionally and personally responsible to share my story. This affects everybody. It affects people I don’t even know. That split-second decision to shoot, it changes many, many people’s lives. The support structure is very important.

While all police officers pull their weapons during their careers only a very small percentage actually end up firing them in a deadly force confrontation. On April 8, 2016, Detective Adam Meyers became one of those officers after he was involved in a fatal officer-involved shooting that changed his life forever. In this episode, host Jim Dudley chats with Adam about the events of that day and the immediate aftermath, as well as the ongoing stress he experienced as a result of the incident.

Hosts and PTSI Resilience Trainers John Salerno and Samantha Horwitz talk with Adam Meyers from Stop the Threat Stop the Stigma on A Badge of Honor Podcast.

A Badge of Honor offers workshops to first responders across the nation, working with mental health liasons and critical incident management teams for Post Traumatic Stress Injury Recovery, wellness and resilience. A Badge of Honor says, “We Hear You,” and wants you to know you are not alone.

While all police officers pull their weapons during their careers only a very small percentage actually end up firing them in a deadly force confrontation. On April 8, 2016, Detective Adam Meyers became one of those officers after he was involved in a fatal officer-involved shooting that changed his life forever. In this episode, host Jim Dudley chats with Adam about the events of that day and the immediate aftermath, as well as the ongoing stress he experienced as a result of the incident.

I worked very hard to get in the law enforcement profession, he said. I worked very hard to try to be a positive role model to my daughters and I knew that my life would continue to suffer if I would continue down the path that I was on.

There are many different coping strategies people may use after experiencing trauma. They may be good and healthy, or they may be bad and unhealthy. My coping strategies were bad, unhealthy, self-destructive, and dangerous. I used alcohol, marijuana, casual sex, and self-harm as some of my poor coping strategies for years after my critical incident.

My poor coping strategies put my relationships, my job, and my health at risk, but I did not care. I wanted to escape from what I was feeling. I wanted to numb my emotions, my thoughts, my body, and any memory of taking someone’s life. I wanted to feel better even if only momentarily. I was selfish, reckless, and I did not care how my self-destructive and dangerous behavior affected my family, friends, fellow officers, or the public.

Adam joins H.O.P.E. Beyond The Badge podcast and shares how he was drawn to police work from an early age, he discusses his time serving in the Army’s MP Corps, getting his dream job as a cop in the town where he lived, his career in law enforcement adn the many positions he’s held over the years.

Adam A. Meyers had a 20+ year career as a police officer and detective in Wisconsin. Fifteen years into his law enforcement career he had a Critical Incident that he suffers PTSD, depression and anxiety from. During the interview Adam speaks of the Critical Incident and how it has affected his life since. Founder of Stop the Stigma – Stop the Threat

I suffered in silence for many years after my critical incident and I am ashamed for the ways I poorly coped. I still feel shame for the ways I coped and treated people. I find it hard to believe that nobody realized or even had a gut feeling that I was not doing well. I could not have been that good at hiding my poor coping strategies, or was I? I have always wondered if people were slowly watching me self-destruct because they did not know what to say to me, how to help me, or they did not want to get involved.

There were many times I did not want to go to work. This was not because I had other plans or that I was hungover from consuming too much alcohol, but I just wanted to stay at home and isolate myself from the world.