Understanding the Silent Burden

Welcome back to “When The Call Hits Home,” your trusted podcast, where we dive into the lives of those raised by first responders. In Episode 11, we were fortunate to have Caitlin Sturges as our guest. Caitlin, daughter and sister to heroes in uniform, shared her nuanced experience of growing up with a father in law enforcement.

One of the most striking conversations during the episode revolved around Caitlin’s decision to encourage her daughter to stay silent about their family’s link to the police. In today’s polarized climate, Caitlin feels that association with law enforcement is often labeled negatively, even perceived as racist. Despite this societal shift, Caitlin’s respect and support for the police remains strong, provided their actions are justifiable.

Caitlin recounted her childhood with pride, influenced heavily by her father’s dedication and noble career. Early exposure to her father’s work painted a positive picture of law enforcement for her and her siblings. However, as she matured, she encountered the harsh reality of media portrayals and societal attitudes that cast shadows on the profession she respected.

Professionally, Caitlin is nearing the end of her graduate studies in Applied Behavior Analysis, a field with minimal research involving law enforcement. Aiming to bridge this gap, Caitlin focused her graduate thesis on improving police training by emphasizing the understanding of behavior functions over appearances. Her findings show that current police training prioritizes the topography—how behavior looks—rather than understanding why the behavior occurs, leading to profiling and misjudgment.

Drawing from both personal and professional experiences, Caitlin has conducted training for police officers, teaching them the functions of behavior to enhance their responses and interactions with the public. Moreover, she penned a comprehensive paper on civil unrest and policing statistics, embodying her dedication to positive reform in law enforcement.

Caitlin’s family dynamic, deeply rooted in first responder culture, has continually shaped her and her siblings. She spoke about her father’s ability to compartmentalize work and home life, although the traumas of his job inevitably seeped into their home. This exposure to secondary trauma from both her father’s and brother’s high-risk careers has left lasting impacts. Nevertheless, Caitlin and her siblings have maintained a close bond, strengthened by shared experiences and a deep understanding of each other’s realities.

The episode also highlighted lighter moments, including a particularly humorous story about Caitlin’s father dealing with an eccentric individual in a trench coat near a pet cemetery. The tale, peppered with humor and vivid descriptions, provided a fresh contrast to the weightier discussions and exemplified the blend of fear and laughter that often characterizes first responder families.

Caitlin’s reflections on her childhood reveal the duality of pride and silence. While she remained respectful towards law enforcement, she struggled with friends’ derogatory remarks about police officers during her high school years. These comments, surprisingly blunt, highlighted a shift in attitudes that blindsided her, considering her family’s strong ties to the profession.

Caitlin’s journey underscores the silent burdens carried by children of first responders. The episode reiterates the podcast’s mission: to create a supportive community for these individuals, offering a safe space to discuss their unique challenges and triumphs.

As we conclude, we extend our deepest gratitude to Caitlin for sharing her story. We invite our listeners to reach out if they are interested in her training programs or wish to share their experiences.

Join us next time on “When The Call Hits Home,” as we continue to explore the lives affected by first responder duties and celebrate their silent bravery and resilience.