Podcast Summary

Podcast: Law Enforcement Talk: True Crime and Trauma Stories

Host: John "Jay" Wiley
Episode: Did Fentanyl Almost Kill a Cop?
Date: January 4, 2026
Guest: Jeff Brown, Career Law Enforcement Officer, Founder of hometownheroesalliance.org

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the harrowing experience of Jeff Brown, a law enforcement officer with four decades of service, who narrowly survived accidental fentanyl exposure. The conversation explores the evolution of police work, the realities and dangers of drug-related calls, the impact of trauma over a career, and the importance of supporting first responders both during and after their service.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Jeff’s Background and Career Reflections

[02:31 – 05:19]

• Jeff’s Law Enforcement Experience: 40 years on the job, witnessed vast changes in police work.
• Shared the longevity joke: "I am that guy that was a cop longer than you've been alive." – Jeff [02:51]
• Plans to retire soon due to health and the changing nature of police work.

Quote:
"This new type of law enforcement is just not working for us old guys that have been around for a while." – Jeff Brown [03:44]

2. The Changing Image of “Street Cops”

[04:52 – 07:26]

• Discussion on the pride and misrepresentation of being a "street cop".
• The importance of using “verbal judo” (de-escalation through language), adapting tone and approach to context.
• Reality vs. media portrayal of police as violent.

Quote:
"There's five or six people who are still on the face of this earth because I happen to be placed in the right place at the right time." – Jeff Brown [05:19]

3. Fentanyl Exposure Incident

[09:14 – 12:36]

• Heart Attack Preceding Fentanyl Exposure: Jeff had a heart attack ("widowmaker") in May 2021, likely due to stress and a typical cop’s unhealthy habits. Recovered and returned to duty.
• Fentanyl Exposure: About a year after his heart attack, he and other deputies were exposed to airborne fentanyl during an arrest (suspects about to inject drugs).
• Symptoms: Dizziness, weak legs, nausea.
• Response: All affected deputies immediately self-administered Narcan and called medical rescue.

Telling Moment:
"We all put on our... PPE equipment, and in testing all the drugs, three out of the five of us... started having the effects… Each one of us narcanned ourselves so that we could make sure we got through this thing." – Jeff Brown [09:57-12:02]

4. The Hidden Dangers and Tolerance of Fentanyl

[12:36 – 13:55]

• Illicit users build tolerance, first responders have none, making incidental exposure extremely dangerous.
• Narcan is viewed skeptically by some, but Jeff highlights its necessity for innocents and professionals.

Quote:
"It's not just the addicts. It's their families. It's the people around them, and it's the cops and the paramedics..." – Jeff Brown [13:35]

5. Law Enforcement Trauma and Hidden Drug Problems

[14:22 – 16:18]

• Emotional toll of witnessing overdoses and fatal drug incidents.
• Hidden nature of drug-related crime in tourist areas—media avoids reporting so as not to impact the economy.

Notable Quote:
"You can't put that on the news...It simply scares the tourists away. So the media and some other people are very good at keeping that down, making it look like...just a great place to be." – Jeff Brown [15:39]

6. Health Aftermath & Approaching Retirement

[17:36 – 20:59]

• Cardiologists advised Jeff against returning to work due to compounded health risks from heart and fentanyl exposure.
• He wishes to retire on his own terms (not via medical retirement), showing resilience and the desire for agency over his career’s end.

Quote:
"I'm not going to leave under... the medical outage... I want to get back to work and say, yep, I'm back. I'm whole, I'm solid. I'm going to leave on my own two feet." – Jeff Brown [19:18–20:34]

7. The Real Cost of the Job: Time, Trauma, and Family

[21:21 – 22:34]

• Long, irregular hours for low pay; many officers need second jobs.
• Trauma and its cumulative burden on family life; support from spouses is crucial.

Memorable Analogy:
"You're carrying a backpack every day you go to work and every time you deal with one of these incidents, another little pebble goes in that backpack. Sooner or later that pack is going to get too hard, too heavy to carry." – Jeff Brown [22:40]

8. Addressing Mental Health and PTSD in Law Enforcement

[23:33 – 25:18]

• Jeff discusses his own PTSD and the importance of counseling.
• Emphasizes watching for warning signs in colleagues and not being afraid to intervene or seek help.

Quote:
"It's okay to not be okay. Let's talk about this... If they don't accept help, then maybe it's time you step up and get them to help." – Jeff Brown [24:32–25:18]

9. Hometown Heroes Alliance: Support for First Responders

[27:18 – 36:09]

• About the Charity: Founded by Jeff and his wife, helps first responders and their families with financial aid, emotional support, and outdoor adventures. 100% volunteer-run; operates nationwide.
• Examples: Paying for medical deductibles, mortgage, building wheelchair ramps, organizing fishing and hunting trips.
• Need for Donations: Encourages listeners to make recurring donations—even $5 a month has a tangible impact.

Impactful Quote:
"You would be absolutely amazed... We are not leaving them behind. Five years down the road, we may show up and go, hey, let's take you on a hunting trip to let you know you're still in our family." – Jeff Brown [29:41]

• On Retirement Isolation:
  "About a year after you've been medically retired, your phone doesn't ring anymore. No one comes and sees you... We cannot afford to do that." – Jeff Brown [31:48–32:37]

10. Final Thoughts and Call to Action

[34:39 – 36:15]

• Jeff invites listeners to visit hometownheroesalliance.org, view their social media, and consider donating or volunteering.

Ending Note:
"You can't buy those smiles. You just can't do it." – Jeff Brown [36:09]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Jeff Brown, on officer tolerance:
  "We're not users and our bodies are not tolerant to any amount [of fentanyl] at all." [12:46]
• John J. Wiley, on trauma:
  "A big part of what I missed, I don't miss the circus so much as I miss the clowns I worked with." [31:21]
• Jeff Brown, on helping others:
  "Anybody who's injured in the line of duty does deserve to be recognized. So it helps us get help for the other people." [34:39]

Episode Structure & Timestamps

• [00:00–04:52]: Introduction, Jeff’s career background
• [04:52–07:26]: Stereotypes and realities of “street cops”
• [09:14–12:36]: Fentanyl exposure incident and its aftermath
• [12:36–13:55]: Dangers of fentanyl, Narcan, and impact on non-users
• [14:22–16:18]: Trauma, hidden drug problems, media issues
• [17:36–20:59]: Health aftermath, decision to retire
• [21:21–22:34]: Effects on family and personal life
• [23:33–25:18]: PTSD, mental health, and peer support
• [27:18–36:09]: Hometown Heroes Alliance, support for first responders
• [36:09–End]: Calls to action, closing remarks

Takeaways

• Fentanyl poses grave, immediate dangers for first responders—even with proper precautions.
• Trauma in law enforcement is cumulative and can overwhelm even the most resilient officers, impacting their families.
• Retirement from service is often difficult, with many feeling isolated and left behind.
• Grassroots support organizations like Hometown Heroes Alliance play a critical role filling in gaps that agencies and government cannot.
• The law enforcement community needs ongoing attention to both mental and physical health—and a little help goes a long way.

For more information or to support Hometown Heroes Alliance, visit hometownheroesalliance.org.