How a Helicopter Crash and Trauma Changed His Life: From Dispatcher to Deputy

 

West Palm Beach, Fl - When Andrew Baxter first sat down behind the console as a young 911 dispatcher with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department, he had no idea how much a single call would change his life. The voice on the other end of the line was frantic, panicked, reporting a helicopter crash. Though he wasn’t physically there, he could hear the chaos unfold in real time.

He is the guest on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available on their website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Medium, and other platforms.

“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.”

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, known to many as “Drew Breasy,” spent 28 years in law enforcement. What began at the dispatch console grew into a career that saw him rise through the ranks, ultimately retiring as a Sheriff’s Lieutenant overseeing a communications center that handled nearly 1.8 million calls per year.

His transition from dispatcher to deputy was a major shift.

“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.”

From violent crimes and car crashes to domestic disputes and tragic accidents, Baxter faced the human side of emergencies head-on. The headset was replaced by flashing lights, and the distance between him and the trauma disappeared.

The Hidden Cost of Service

As his career advanced, the emotional toll began to mount. The combination of indirect trauma from dispatching and direct trauma as a deputy slowly wore away at his peace of mind. Like many in law enforcement, Baxter carried his pain in silence.

“I thought I could outwork it, push through it, just like I always had,” he admits. “But trauma doesn’t work that way. It catches up with you.”

For Baxter, it caught up in the form of post-traumatic stress (PTSD), destructive coping mechanisms, and substance abuse. Ironically, the same qualities that made him strong, resilience, discipline, and determination, also became barriers that kept him from seeking help.

Behind the badge, his relationships strained, and the career he had built with pride began to feel like it was unraveling.

A Turning Point

Healing didn’t happen overnight. It came slowly, through confronting the pain he had tried to bury for years. Seeking help was one of the hardest choices of his life, but it was also the most important.

“I realized I wasn’t alone,” Baxter says. “There were countless others in law enforcement, dispatch, fire, EMS, people just like me, carrying invisible wounds. If I could get through it, maybe I could help them, too.”

That realization changed everything. His story stopped being just about trauma and became one of recovery, resilience, and purpose.

A Mission to Help Others

Today, Baxter uses his platform as “Drew Breasy” to share his experiences openly. Through podcasts, speaking engagements, and outreach, he works to break the silence around mental health in law enforcement and first responder PTSD.

“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.”

He addresses the stigma head-on: “There’s nothing weak about seeking help. It takes more courage to admit you’re struggling than it does to ignore it.”

A Legacy Beyond the Badge

For Andrew “Drew Breasy” Baxter, service didn’t end when he retired. If anything, it began anew. By sharing his story, he shines a light on the invisible battles first responders face every day.

The helicopter crash that started his journey was a moment of tragedy, but today, it stands as a reminder that resilience and recovery can grow from pain.

“Recovery is possible,” Baxter says with conviction. “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.”

Baxter’s full story is featured on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast, available on their website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Medium, and other platforms.

Attributions

HCSO

The Comm Center

Wikipedia

 



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