Page 39 - May2021

mind from my own suffering to [focus on] the suffering others are going through.”
Swiderski found himself on this path after taking part in a social media push- up challenge to raise awareness about the 22 military-veteran suicides occurring each day. He soon learned that 132 people complete a suicide every day in the United States, while approximately 1.4 million at- tempt suicide each year.
“These are the numbers that are not talked about because of the stigma,” said Swiderski, who works in organizational development as a coach and mentor with an emphasis on emotional intelligence.
“I really needed to step up and do some- thing...I really needed to learn more.”
Understanding the mental strain put on police officers by the constant exposure to violence, death and other inhumanities that comes with the job, Swiderski looked deeper into the toll of PTSD on cops and how they are being helped. What is clear, he said, is that officers repress what they experience and put on a strong face to live up to the superhero persona, even though that conflicts with feeling disrespected and distrusted by many people in the pub- lic realm.
“I believe there’s a loss of purpose,” he said, referring to the cumulative impact those emotions and experiences lead to for cops. “They’re really suffering inside.”
So, he ran.
His goal for the April ultramarathon was to spread the word about police PTSD, to connect with officers to let them know it’s OK to not be OK and to raise money for the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation that would go toward mental health resources for cops.
The fundraiser brought in about a quar- ter of what he hoped, and he’s “not hearing enough” conversations on these import- ant topics since the run, he said.
“It didn’t reach all of the officers,” Swid- erski said. “Something has to be done or the suicides will continue.”
Mission success means no more police suicides and officers once again feeling cared for and respected.
“I’ve got a long way to go,” Swiderski ac- knowledged.
But this son of a 31-year CPD veteran continues to plot the course to his goal. Swiderski would like to run through all of Chicago’s 22 police districts, hoping he will be joined by anyone and everyone who wants to support the mental health and well-being of police officers across the city.
“I simply cannot walk away from this. It’s hard to imagine the suffering contin- ues...when I can do something about it. I want to make a difference in people’s lives.”
To support Robert Swiderski’s fundrais- er, visit give.cpdmemorial.org/fundrais- er/3185230.
Robert Swiderski Sr., who served 31 years with the Department, greets his son at the end of his 170-mile trek.
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ MAY 2021 39