Protecting the Shield Podcast Recap: NYPD to SWAT Stories: Stress, Midnight Shifts & The Future of Officer Wellness

In this episode of the Protecting the Shield Podcast, SWORN President Adam Safir sat down with two seasoned law enforcement veterans, Michael Ginch (formerly NYPD) now with Integras and Andrew McCormick (retired Tempe PD SWAT Sergeant), to uncover the often-overlooked realities of police wellness. Their candid conversation shed light on the unique challenges faced by public responders and the evolving landscape of support systems.

From Midnight Shifts to Tactical Operations: The Personal Toll of the Badge

Michael Ginch, with eight years on the NYPD's midnight platoon, revealed the significant impact of shift work on his health, including a 30-40 pound weight gain. He shared the necessity of transforming his bedroom into a "cave" with blackout curtains just to snatch a few hours of sleep before resuming duties or heading to court. This personal struggle underscored the physiological demands of the job, with Ginch noting, "Your body isn't made to do that... it definitely catches up to you, the overnights."

Andrew McCormick, a 27-year veteran of the Tempe Police Department, including 24 years on their SWAT team, echoed the challenges of disrupted sleep patterns, even with his advantageous background in professional baseball that instilled good eating habits. He described the constant juggle of intense tactical callouts with family life, often getting only a few hours of sleep before resuming work or childcare duties. McCormick summed it up: "Your sleep patterns get really messed up, just in this line of work, just in general."

The Culture of Suppression: Why Officers Don't Ask for Help

Both Ginch and McCormick highlighted a pervasive culture within law enforcement where officers are often reluctant to show vulnerability. As Ginch put it, "No one's looking at a cop that they're weak... They cover it up and they, you know, and cops do a very, very good job at that." This tendency to "mask it up" and power through, driven by camaraderie and the desire not to let down squad mates, can lead to suppressed stress and burnout. McCormick noted that while there's a recent shift towards acknowledging the need for help, for the majority of his career, "it was exactly like that." The reliance on energy drinks, as Ginch pointed out, offers a temporary fix that often leads to hitting a "brick wall."

Building Resilience: Supervisor Support, Hobbies, and Home Life

The conversation turned to the crucial role of support systems. McCormick, as a supervisor, emphasized the importance of genuine, one-on-one check-ins with his officers. By understanding their personal lives, he could offer proactive support, sometimes even encouraging them to take a day off, recognizing that "if somebody's struggling and they don't want anybody else to know, nobody else is really gonna know."

Both guests stressed the importance of hobbies as a vital outlet for stress relief and mental refreshment. Ginch found solace in running, recommending it or any other passion as a "refresh" button after demanding shifts. He stated, "I think you have to find something that you can always, you know, go to if, you know you just need to, you know, step away for a minute." The concept of keeping work at work was also a key takeaway, acknowledging the difficulty of separating traumatic experiences from home life, but emphasizing the importance of doing so for family well-being. Ginch advised, "You have to keep work at work... Disconnect from work and have that home family balance, I think is key."

The Future of Wellness: AI as a Force Multiplier for Public Responders

A forward-looking segment of the podcast focused on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public responder wellness. Adam Safir explained how SWORN utilizes AI to correlate biometric data, schedules, and workloads to identify and address both "good stress" (eustress) and "bad stress" (distress) privately for individuals.

Ginch likened AI to the introduction of body cameras – initially met with skepticism, but ultimately proving to be a protective tool. He stated, "I think that's probably the same approach with AI. People like, oh, technology... But I think now that it's been... it's here to help us, you know, not hurt us." McCormick enthusiastically shared how his former department is exploring AI software to automate report writing, freeing up officers for more critical duties. He also envisioned AI providing vital, real-time intelligence for officers responding to calls, such as alerting them to potential disabilities like autism or past weapons at a location.

The consensus was clear: AI is poised to become another invaluable tool in a law enforcement officer's belt, offering preventative awareness and data-driven insights to manage long-term health impacts that often go unnoticed until it's too late. As McCormick eloquently put it, "It takes something like AI or this program to tell you, 'Hey, this is what's going on. Pay attention to what the data is showing you.'"

This episode serves as a powerful testament to the dedication of those who serve and highlights the critical need for comprehensive, proactive wellness solutions like SWORN to ensure their long-term health and resilience.