Blue Line, The Podcast: Head trauma, mental health and suicide risk in policing

In this episode of Blue Line, The Podcast, editor Brittani Schroeder sits down with psychotherapist Stephanie Samuels, executive director of Copline, to explore the profound impact of repetitive head trauma on law enforcement mental health. Samuels explains why head trauma is a critical “missing piece” in understanding challenges like PTSD and suicide risk, and how its symptoms are often misattributed to other psychological issues. Drawing on the case of Brent Simpson, the first publicly known officer diagnosed with CTE, this episode also highlights the subtle signs of brain injury that officers, families and colleagues should watch for. Despite the seriousness of the topic, Samuels offers a message of hope, emphasizing that head trauma is treatable and outlining what a clear path forward can look like for officers and their families grappling with these challenges.