Episode 26: Police and Fire; Special Conversation with Brothers in Civil Service
In this special episode of Deviant Criminology, host Dr. Richard Weaver brings his brother Michael, a veteran firefighter with 27 years of service, into an intimate conversation about their parallel journeys through emergency services. Their story begins in childhood, where their family home sat at a dangerous intersection that regularly became the scene of serious accidents. As young boys, they kept "go bags" with first aid supplies in their front closet, ready to respond to the inevitable crashes that punctuated their summers. This early exposure to emergency response, coupled with having parents who served (their father spent 25 years in the Navy), created the foundation for careers defined by public service.
The brothers share candid reflections about their first calls in emergency services – Michael's first ride-along leading to a deceased person who had been undiscovered for five days in summer heat, and Richard recounting a similar welfare check that revealed a Vietnam veteran who had passed days earlier. These formative experiences are described with the kind of detail that only trauma can burn into memory. What becomes clear through their conversation is how emergency responders develop the ability to recall minute details of their worst calls, even decades later – the make and model of vehicles, what victims were wearing, and the exact sequence of events.
The conversation takes a more profound turn when discussing psychological impact and coping mechanisms. Michael reveals how his marriage nearly collapsed because he wouldn't share his work experiences with his wife, creating an emotional wall between them. Richard speaks openly about his diagnoses of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Both brothers acknowledge the essential role of mental health support, with Michael noting, "I've got a really good counselor and I don't have a problem admitting that." They discuss the paradoxical nature of "gallows humor" – how outsiders might perceive it as callous or insensitive when it's actually a vital coping mechanism for those regularly exposed to trauma.
Perhaps most interesting is their discussion of the unique "family dynamic" that develops between emergency responders. They describe how this bond transcends personal differences – "There's a couple people I've worked with that off duty I wouldn't piss in their mouth if their guts were on fire, but on duty I'll be damned if I'm gonna let anything happen to them." This brotherhood extends across services despite the friendly rivalry between fire and police, creating a support system that understands the unique pressures of the job in ways that outsiders cannot.
A central theme emerges: the importance of being victim and patient-focused. As Michael poignantly explains when discussing line-of-duty funerals, "The family matters more" because "they're the ones that are going to remember all this." Both brothers emphasize that while they've seen the worst of humanity, they find meaning in being present for people during their darkest moments. The episode concludes with advice both for those entering emergency services – "take care of yourself" – and for civilians encountering first responders – "have some compassion" and "open your eyes" to the human beings behind the uniforms trying to help others during the worst moments of their lives.
Refences
Mike; AKA my brother
Richard; AKA me
