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Southwest Messenger - May 5th, 2019

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www.columbusmessenger.com SOUTHWEST MESSENGER - <strong>May</strong> 5, <strong>2019</strong> - PAGE 23<br />

By Rick Palsgrove<br />

Southeast Editor<br />

The stress of life as a police officer or a<br />

firefighter can exact a painful toll on first<br />

responders.<br />

This strain is expressed in the following<br />

words in an anonymous note written by a<br />

police officer, “I never knew that being a<br />

cop could hurt so much. I can’t do this any<br />

more. I am sorry.”<br />

Groveport Police Chief Ralph Portier is<br />

well aware of this stress and its impacts. In<br />

1998, to help combat the depression and<br />

strain felt by first responders, Portier created<br />

the program, “Dying in Blue.” It’s purpose<br />

is to create and maintain awareness<br />

for all first responders and their families<br />

about the dangers of the trauma they see<br />

each day.<br />

Helping first responders cope with the stress of the job<br />

“In 1998, I noted the suicide of an officer<br />

I knew and tried to determine the reason<br />

for the death,” said Portier. “What I<br />

found during my research was the lack of<br />

employer assistance and that police chiefs,<br />

fire chiefs and sheriffs did not understand<br />

how to handle these situations before a suicide<br />

occurred with their agency.”<br />

Portier, who has been involved as a first<br />

responder himself since 1971, said his life<br />

in public service gives him credibility with<br />

fire/EMS and law enforcement.<br />

According to Portier, so far in <strong>2019</strong>,<br />

more than 50 police officers have committed<br />

suicide.<br />

“Presently firefighters are gathering<br />

that information, but it is happening,<br />

throughout the United States,” said<br />

Portier.<br />

Divorce frequency based on the stress<br />

and depression they deal with is also high<br />

among first responders.<br />

“Oddly, the American public has a<br />

divorce rate of 51 percent, but first responders<br />

can see it as high 60 to 70 percent,”<br />

said Portier.<br />

Portier has been presenting “Dying in<br />

Blue” (which he funds himself) all over<br />

Ohio, primarily through mental health services.<br />

He said he has expanded over the<br />

years to individual departments who may<br />

not have the means to have this type of<br />

training. Portier said it is hard to estimate,<br />

but he thinks he has presented the program<br />

to about 2,000 first responders over<br />

the years.<br />

“I speak frankly in terms of awareness,<br />

physiological and psychological information,<br />

seeking help and helping others,” said<br />

Portier. “What I have found during and<br />

after each lecture is that first responders<br />

will open up and begin to talk to each other<br />

and pretty soon, help starts immediately.”<br />

Portier also keeps the stories he hears<br />

from first responders private.<br />

“My promise to those who have opened<br />

up to me is to keep their stories confidential,”<br />

said Portier.<br />

When asked how the public can help<br />

ease the strain first responders face,<br />

Portier said, “This is a hard question to<br />

answer, but I believe supporting your<br />

police, firefighters, EMS, doctors, nurses<br />

and dispatchers truly helps. These first<br />

responders never ask to be recognized, but,<br />

like what many of our residents in<br />

Groveport do for us all the time, we love<br />

cookies!”<br />

CLASSIFIED ADS<br />

Deadlines: Southeast and West editions, Wednesdays at 5 p.m., • East, <strong>Southwest</strong>, Madison editions, Tuesdays at 5 p.m.<br />

All editions by phone, Tuesdays at 5 p.m. • Service Directory, Tuesdays at 5 p.m.<br />

INFORMATION<br />

xInformation<br />

MAY GIVEAWAY<br />

Place a prepaid classified line ad in our paper<br />

during the month of MAY and be registered<br />

to win a $50 Gift Card from<br />

The Columbus <strong>Messenger</strong><br />

Newspapers.<br />

All ads received by mail, in person, e-mail or<br />

phone will be included in the drawing.<br />

Drawing will be held <strong>May</strong> 29th, <strong>2019</strong><br />

and the winner will be notified and published<br />

in our June 2nd, <strong>2019</strong> issue.<br />

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!!!<br />

Congratulations<br />

To Our Gift Card Winner<br />

For April <strong>2019</strong><br />

Joe Morton<br />

From<br />

The Columbus <strong>Messenger</strong><br />

Newspapers<br />

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xPublic Notice<br />

LEGAL NOTICE<br />

The Grove City Police Department has recovered<br />

numerous bicycles, tools, electronic equipment, clothing<br />

and monies over the course of several months.<br />

The bicycles are of various types and models, as are<br />

the tools and electronic equipment. All properties are<br />

held in a secured police facility at all times. If you<br />

believe you have claim to any of the property and have<br />

proof of ownership for the property, you may call the<br />

Grove City Police Department Property Room at<br />

614-277-1757. A review and release of any and all<br />

property is by appointment only. All items not claimed<br />

will be sold at public auction, turned over to the Law<br />

Enforcement Fund, or destroyed according to Ohio<br />

Law.<br />

CHARITABLE DONATION<br />

Qualified organizations may be eligible to receive<br />

bicycles as charitable donations from the City of<br />

Grove City. Qualified organizations must have a valid<br />

ruling or determination letter recognizing the taxexempt<br />

status of the organization, pursuant to Internal<br />

Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) or (c)(19).<br />

Representatives may call the Grove City Police<br />

Department Property Room at 614-277-1757 to<br />

inquire about the donation process.<br />

TO ADVERTISE<br />

YOUR LEGAL/<br />

PUBLIC NOTICES<br />

CALL KATHY<br />

AT THE<br />

COLUMBUS<br />

MESSENGER<br />

NEWSPAPERS<br />

614-272-5422<br />

Public Notice<br />

xMother’s Day Greeting<br />

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY<br />

TO OUR READERS<br />

Mother’s Day Greeting

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