In this debut episode, PepperBall CEO Bob Plaschke speaks with former Air Force captain and Walnut Creek Police Sergeant (ret.) Michael Sugrue, author of Relentless Courage, a book that chronicles his personal battle with mental health challenges that peaked after he had to use lethal force.  Sugrue talks about the invisible toll of daily trauma on first responders and explains why “post-traumatic stress injury” (PTSI) is a more accurate and constructive term than “disorder,” outlining how repeated exposure to crisis produces real, physical changes in the brain. He contrasts short, defined combat deployments with the relentless, years-long hyper-vigilance of civilian policing, then lays out practical leadership steps: honesty, openness, and vulnerability from command staff to normalize seeking help. The discussion closes with a direct appeal to public-safety leaders and community partners to support evidence-based wellness programs, peer resources, and tools that create time and distance for safer outcomes.

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