Don’t Bring It Home

Helping First Responders Separate Occupational Stress from Home Life

A uniformed police officer kneels inside a residential room while two young children reach toward the officer’s shoulders, with hardwood floors, white walls, and doorways visible

“Don’t bring it home” is one of the most common phrases exchanged among police officers and other first responders. It is offered with good intentions, often following particularly difficult calls or during informal debriefs at the end of a shift. Yet, while the advice is repeated frequently, it is rarely explained. Officers are told what not to do, but almost never taught how not to bring the job home. This mentality fails officers, agencies, and most importantly, their families.