Articles & Resources
Adam Meyers, Founder of Stop The Threat – Stop The Stigma has been featured in numerous podcasts, newspaper articles, etc. Below is a few samples of those features.

The following link contains audio of a 911 call related to a critical incident involving a fatal shooting. This content may be distressing or triggering for some individuals.
Listener discretion is advised.
Click on 911 Call image to the right to listen to the actual 911 call recording of the critical incident.
Click on image or text below to view full article or listen to podcast.
A Police Officer's Story of Recovery by Adam Meyers, Wisconsin Police Officer
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.
The Aftermath of a First Responder's Critical Incident
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/
Real American Blue: Police Psychology
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
Public Safety Preservation - First Responder Spotlight
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.
Trauma Can Induce Negative Coping Strategies
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.
Survivor Story: Our "boys in blue" have wounds too
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.
#74 "Behind the Badge: Adam Meyers' Journey from Trauma to Advocacy" - Grace Lauren Taylor
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.
The Aftermath of a First Responder's 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.
OnTopic with Empathia: Episode 51 - Stopping the Stigma with Adam Meyers, Part Two
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.
OnTopic with Empathia: Episode 50 - Stopping the Stigma with Adam Meyers, Part One
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.
The Aftermath of a First Responder's Critical Incident
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.
S3E:7 From Trauma to Triumph: A Police Officer's Story
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.
Breaking the Stigma, Capt Adam Meyers on Mental Health and Law Enforcement Wellness. Episode #46
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's Journey: The Aftermath of a First Responder's Critical Incident.
This is actually a personal story shared by first responder Adam Meyers about his struggles and healing after a critical incident. I appreciate his willingness and bravery in sharing this story in the hopes that it’ll help break the stigma around mental health and encourage others to get the help and support they need before it’s too late. This is his unedited story.
Adam Meyers: My Life After a Critical Incident
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.
Shielded Voices: Adam Meyers Part 1 #007
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.
Shielded Voices: Adam Meyers Part 2 #008
In Part 1, we peeled back the layers of stigma surrounding mental health in law enforcement, sharing personal struggles and the challenges we face when seeking help. Today, we’ll pick up where we left off and dig deeper into breaking down those barriers, highlighting the importance of resilience and support within the First Responder community.
A Police Officer's Story of Mental Health and Recovery
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.
My Poor coping Strategies
What self-abuse looked like for a longtime officer — and how he overcame his struggles
After A Critical Incident, A Police Officer's Poor coping and Poor Choices
Another of my many poor coping strategies I used was abusing alcohol. Prior to the incident, I collected wine and enjoyed a glass every now and then. However, after, 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 I would mix in whatever leftover prescription medicines I had in the medicine cabinet, and it didn’t matter if they were prescribed to me or someone else.
I Had to Use Deadly Force. I'm Ashamed of What I Did to Cope
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.
A Police Officer's Poor Coping and Poor Choices, After A 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.
A Police Officer's Struggles with coping Led to Poor Choices Following a Crisis
It has taken me many years to get back on track. 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.
Stop the threat, remove the stigma
The public safety profession is a high-stress environment that has been associated with mental health issues.
Police Officers Must Protect Their Own Mental Health
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.
Stopping the stigma is crucial in enabling offers to cope effectively with mental health challenges.
When Wisconsin police officer Adam Meyers was involved in the fatal shooting of an armed suspect, the resulting mental health challenges he faced – and the associated stigma – led him into a downward spiral of poor coping mechanisms and suicidal thoughts; now he’s using his own experiences to inspire other struggling officers to speak out and seek help, and urging leaders and law enforcement agencies to address the mental health stigma.
A Police Officer's Poor Coping Strategies
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 Dangerous Stigmas Around Mental Health
The issue of mental health is prominent everywhere in the public safety profession and it is an issue that commands a new perspective.
'You Could Be a Light'
Please reach out to someone if you believe they are struggling with their mental health.
I know it may feel awkward or uncomfortable, but most people will not admit they are struggling, and most people will not reach out for help. You could be a light during a very dark time in their life.
A Story of First-Responders, Trauma, and Addiction
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.
Hartford Township PD captain receives award for mental health recovery.
“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.”
Police culture and mental health: it is time to stop the stigma
Law enforcement professionals who openly seek help for anxiety, depression, emotional disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder often face personal or professional criticism and discrimination. Sometimes, in seeking help, their careers suffer considerable harm. Police officers can be considered “unfit for duty” if their mental health records are revealed, potentially resulting in them losing their employment. Therefore, many law enforcement professionals opt “to suffer in silence to everyone’s detriment, including their own.”
Crisis, Stress, and Human Resilience: An International Journal
To overcome the mental health stigma in the public safety profession it is important
that those public safety professionals who suffer from mental health issues learn to understand, accept, and determine what is needed to treat it. It is time to become a part of the solution and work with those suffering to make mental health issues stigma free.
Lake Hallie police officer confronts mental health stigma
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 Threat - Stop The Stigma
WEAU-TV13 News story.
STOP THE STIGMA: Police Officer Launches Mental Health Business
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.
Enduring The Badge, Episode #119 "I am Stopping The Threat & The Stigma" - Adam Meyers
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.
Responder Resilience, S2 E47: The Silent Epidemic in Police Officer Mental Health
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.
The first thing I did was pray she wouldn't die
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.
A Badge of Honor Podcast, Episode 23: Stop the Threat Stop the Stigma with Adam Meyers
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.
Wis. officer recounts impact of Walmart shooting 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.
Properly Addressing On-Duty Trauma
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.
Officer turns personal stuggles into mission to help fellow first reponders
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.
A Police Officer's Story
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.
A Wisconsin Police Officer's Story of Mental Health And Recovery
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 Downward Spiral and Recovery
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.
When the Badge Gets Heavy - Episode 1 with Adam Meyers, Police Officer
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
H.O.P.E. Beyond The Badge Ep. #73 Adam Myers - LEO
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.