Face of America Inspires Veteran to Help Develop Fallen Law Enforcement Ride

PHILADELPHIA - May 22, 2015 - PRLog -- The challenges of post-traumatic stress can be overwhelming, even for trained professionals who are highly skilled problem-solvers. For veteran William Terry, captain of Team Red White & Blue at World T.E.A.M. Sports’ April 24-26, 2015 Face of America bicycle and hand cycle ride, post-traumatic stress from his military service led him to a time in his life in which suicide seemed to be his only option.

“By the grace of God, I didn't succeed,” he says simply.

Riding his second year in the 110-mile journey from the Pentagon to the historic battlefields of Gettysburg, Terry and the 17 veteran, active-duty military and civilian riders who comprised Team Red White & Blue helped participating injured veterans complete the ride. The ride assistance also helped Terry, who sustained multiple injuries during his service.

“This ride is important to me because it challenges me to overcome some of my injuries and mentally challenge myself as I still maintain my recovery with PTS,” Terry says.

Through his participation with Team Red White & Blue, Terry met Vincent Gibson, whose younger brother Detective Joseph Gibson suffered from PTS through his Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Police Department duties. Tragically, at Christmas 2010, Detective Gibson ended his life. The loss “devastated our family,” reports Gibson, who discovered that “suicide is a subject that most people don’t want to talk about, because it’s for some to have to relive that day or night over again, when they found out that a member of their family took their own life.”

For Gibson’s grieving family, and for other families of officers who choose suicide, many law enforcement departments provide no assistance. Unlike officers who are killed in the line of duty, suicides are treated with a stigma that it is something to be hidden from the public.

Researching law enforcement suicides, Gibson found that little has been published in public media on the topic, even though in 2012, 126 American officers took their own lives. In 2008, a national study by about law enforcement suicides was undertaken and published in the Journal of Emergency Mental Health. This study indicated post-traumatic stress is undoubtedly a leading contributing factor.

Deciding to increase awareness of law enforcement suicides, Gibson began connecting in 2012 with other families of United States and Canadian officers who took their own lives. But, greater visibility was needed to increase public awareness.

On July 13, 2014, Gibson and a small group of bicyclists gathered at the Philadelphia Police Academy and rode 20 miles to his brother’s former precinct house. Escorted by the Philadelphia Police Department, and documented by local television news, the Project Blue Light Philadelphia ride was a simple way to honor and remember those who have served and had been lost to suicide.

For the second ride scheduled for August 8, 2015, Gibson reached out to Terry for his assistance, recognizing he had participated in the 2014 and 2015 Face of America.

“Face of America has helped me understand how a ride such as Project Blue Light Philadelphia needs to be organized on a larger scale,” Terry said. “We are currently expecting between 50 to 250 riders as police departments and some university bike patrols haven't given us their exact amount of bikers that are coming out.”

Noting that suicides among law enforcement personnel are beginning to gain awareness nationally, Gibson said the Philadelphia ride can help break the silence among officers and involve the public in identifying PTS and providing supportive treatment. Many officers today are afraid of talking about their struggles or seeking professional help. They are concerned they could be sent to a desk job or even dropped from the force if they are diagnosed with PTS.

Registration for interested bicyclists and motorcyclists for the Project Blue Light Philadelphia is at no cost at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/project-blue-light-philadelph.... There is no minimum fundraising requirement for participants. The ride begins at 10 a.m. at the Philadelphia Police Academy and rides about 20 miles to the Living Flame Memorial in Franklin Square Park. Riders from all backgrounds and abilities are welcome, including athletes with disabilities.

This year’s ride will be in honor and memory of Lt. Sean Lynn of the Philadelphia Police Department. “There is no peace” until these fallen officers are honored, Gibson said.

Terry is grateful to be a part of the healing process for these officers’ families and is creating an organization to manage additional commemorative bicycling rides. It is through his participation with Face of America and World T.E.A.M. Sports that he has the inspiration to lead.

“As we form the foundation and work towards having a memorial ride in every state honoring those who won't be honored,” he said, “We hope that the sponsors and the national attention will change the stigma behind suicides within our first responders.”