HAPCOA Board Member Publishes CHECKPOINTS: The Blueprint to EmotionalHealth for First Responders.

HAPCOA National Board Vice President, Assistant Chief (retired) Reuben Ramirez,
Dallas Police Department, published: Checkpoints: The Blueprint for Emotional
Health For First Responders (Reuben G. Ramirez, CHECKPOINTS: The Blueprint to
Emotional Health for First Responders, LLC. 2024).

Chief Ramirez was recently mentioned in the March 2025, PERF Critical Issues in
Policing publication. PERF (Police Executive Research Forum). 2025. Call for Help:
Treatment Centers for Police Officers. Critical Issues in Policing Series. Washington,
DC: Police Executive Research Forum.

PERF Executive Director Chuck Wexler, in his introductory comments, quoted Chief
Ramirez:

“It’s no secret that policing is a tough profession. What has been a secret is the
reason why policing is so difficult. It’s not because of the danger, the bullets, or
bad guys. Its not even because of the shift work, late nights or fear of attack.
Policing is hard because of what it does to your mind-and the amount of
secondary trauma you consume. You stand in proximity to other people’s grief,
tragedy , and sadness on a daily bias. You absorb it and carry it whether you
want to or not.”

HAPCOA recognizes and salutes Chief Ramirez as a leader of First Responder mental
health issues. Chief Ramirez was recently hired to serve as Executive Partner Success
Manager with VERSATERM. Versaterm is a global leader in public safety solutions and
with this hiring of Chief Ramirez has expanded its health and wellness program.