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In this powerful episode of After the Tones Drop, we sit down with Captain Ed Monroe, a 16-year veteran of the LA County Fire Department, whose life and leadership were forever changed by a tragic critical incident within his department in 2021. Ed opens up about the unimaginable day when a colleague took the life of one of their brothers, shot another and permanently wounded him, then took his life—and the lasting ripple effects on the entire agency.
From navigating grief and leadership under extreme pressure to the long-term impact of trauma on the fire service, Ed shares his journey of vulnerability, resilience, and the hard lessons learned. He candidly discusses his shift from skepticism about mental health support to becoming an advocate for therapy and peer support.
Tune in to hear how Ed's personal story is a testament to the importance of mental health in first responder communities, the cultural shifts happening in peer support, and the relentless pursuit of breaking down stigmas.
What You'll Learn:
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DISCLAIMER:
After the Tones Drop has been presented and sponsored by Whole House Counseling. After the Tones Drop is for informational purposes only and does not constitute for medical or psychological advice. It is not a substitute for professional health care advice diagnosis or treatment. Please contact a local mental health professional in your area if you are in need of assistance. You can also visit our shows resources page for an abundance of helpful information.
ATTD Music Credits (Music from #Uppbeat):
Captain
Ed Monroe is a 16-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Ed was born in Del Rio Texas; his father was an Air Force pilot and his mother worked in banking. He grew up on Air Force Bases throughout the U.S. and internationally and refers to Huntington Beach, Ca as his hometown. A graduate of Marina High School in Huntington Beach, Ed later furthered his education with a degree in Mathematics – Applied.
Ed is married with 3 children.
Ed Monroe promoted to Fire Captain in 2018. Captain Monroe’s job specialties include incident command, wildland and structure firefighting, HAZMAT Specialist, and EMS.
In 2021, Captain Monroe was directly involved in a very notable, significant critical incident and speaks publicly on the topic.
Ed advocates for first responders who are struggling with their own cumulative traumatic stress, critical incidents, and PTSD.
