From Dispatcher to Deputy
From Dispatcher to Deputy: How a Helicopter Crash and Trauma Changed His Life. Special Episode. That call became the first of many moments that would shape his understanding of trauma, resilience, and eventually, recovery. He is the guest on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available for free on their website, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most podcast platforms.
When Andrew Baxter, better known by many as “Drew Breasy,” spent 28 years in law enforcement, beginning as a 911 dispatcher and ending as the lieutenant commanding a communications center that handled roughly 1.8 million calls annually. That journey taught me how to stay calm in chaos, and build teams that do the same. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast promoted across their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
When took his first seat behind the console as a 911 dispatcher, he couldn’t have imagined how a single call would change the trajectory of his life. The young recruit had joined the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department full of energy and purpose. But one of his earliest calls, a helicopter crash, left a permanent imprint on his mind and spirit. Look for supporting stories about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium , Blogspot and Linkedin .
“It was one of those calls you never forget,” Baxter says. “I wasn’t on the scene, but I could hear everything. The voices, the panic, the chaos. And that’s the thing about dispatching—sometimes the trauma isn’t direct, but it’s just as real.” From Dispatcher to Deputy: How a Helicopter Crash and Trauma Changed His Life. Special Episode.
That call became the first of many moments that would shape his understanding of trauma, resilience, and eventually, recovery.
From the Console to the Streets
Baxter’s career began in dispatch, but his ambition and commitment to service soon took him beyond the phone lines and radio traffic. He transitioned to the streets, trading in the headset for a patrol car. Over the years, he climbed the ranks, eventually retiring as a Sheriff’s Lieutenant. Available for free on their website and streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other podcast platforms.
While dispatch exposed him to the raw fear and emergencies of strangers, working the streets brought trauma even closer. He responded to violent crimes, traffic accidents, domestic disputes, and tragedies that most people only see on the evening news.
“The shift from dispatcher to deputy was like going from hearing about the fire to being inside of it,” he recalls. “You see things you can’t unsee. You carry them with you, whether you want to or not.”
The Hidden Cost of Service
For Baxter, the accumulation of both indirect trauma from dispatch and direct trauma from his time as a deputy began to take its toll. Like many in law enforcement, he carried his pain quietly, not wanting to burden others or show what might be perceived as weakness. From Dispatcher to Deputy: How a Helicopter Crash and Trauma Changed His Life. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on their website , Apple Podcasts , Spotify and most major podcast platforms.
But trauma has a way of surfacing. For Baxter, it came in the form of post-traumatic stress, destructive behavior, and substance abuse. The very qualities that made him a strong deputy, discipline, resilience, and a refusal to quit, were the same qualities that kept him from asking for help when he needed it most.
“I thought I could outwork it, push through it, just like I always had,” Baxter says. “But trauma doesn’t work that way. It catches up with you.”
His struggles spilled over into his personal and professional life. Relationships strained. Trust eroded. The career he had built with such pride began to feel like it was slipping away.
A Turning Point
Recovery didn’t come easily, but it did come. Baxter eventually sought help, and through the difficult process of facing his pain, he found not only healing but a new mission. From Dispatcher to Deputy: How a Helicopter Crash and Trauma Changed His Life. The full podcast episode is streaming now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
“I realized I wasn’t alone,” he says. “There were countless others in law enforcement, dispatch, fire, EMS—people just like me, who were carrying invisible wounds. If I could get through it, maybe I could help them, too.”
This realization transformed his life. No longer was his story just about trauma and struggle. It became about recovery, resilience, and using hard-earned lessons to light the path for others.
A Mission to Help Others
Today, Baxter speaks openly about his experiences, using his platform as “Drew Breasy” to reach those who may still be suffering in silence. He shares his journey not to dwell on the past, but to show what’s possible when someone chooses to face it.
“Helping others is what gives all of this meaning,” he explains. “If my story can prevent someone else from going down the same destructive path, or if it encourages them to get help sooner than I did, then it’s worth it.” From Dispatcher to Deputy. The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast promoted across their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
Through speaking engagements, podcasts, and personal outreach, Baxter advocates for mental health awareness within the first responder community. He knows firsthand the stigma that surrounds asking for help in law enforcement and wants to break it down.
“There’s nothing weak about seeking help,” he says firmly. “It takes more courage to admit you’re struggling than it does to ignore it.”
A Legacy Beyond the Badge
From his early days as a 911 dispatcher to his retirement as a Lieutenant, Andrew “Drew Breasy” Baxter’s career was marked by service. But perhaps his greatest service has come after the badge, helping others heal from the traumas that come with wearing the uniform. Check out the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast promoted across their Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , Medium and other social media platforms.
The helicopter crash that began his journey was a moment of tragedy. But today, Baxter has turned his pain into purpose. His story is a reminder that trauma may shape a person, but it does not have to define them.
“Recovery is possible,” he says. “I’m living proof of that. And if I can help even one person believe it’s possible for them, too, then that’s my mission.” From Dispatcher to Deputy: How a Helicopter Crash and Trauma Changed His Life. Special Episode.
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) is the primary law enforcement agency for Hillsborough County, Florida, and is responsible for law enforcement services for the 888 square miles of unincorporated areas of the county as well as operation of the two jail facilities and provides courthouse security for the 13th Judicial Circuit. The sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county.
The office has one of the lowest officer-to-citizen ratios in the state with 1.4 deputies per 1000 citizens. The national average is 2.3 per 1000. The population of Hillsborough County in 2006 was 1,157,738.
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From Dispatcher to Deputy: How a Helicopter Crash and Trauma Changed His Life. Special Episode.
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