I grew up on Long Island NY. In 1985, became a member of my local Volunteer Fire Department, (Farmingdale Village) when I was 15. Started out as a Junior Firefighter, worked my way up after 20 years becoming Chief of the Department.
I learned the medical field and a lot about community service. In 1988, I joined the NYC EMS system working in one of the deadliest areas in NY- Trauma and Shootings were a nightly thing, running many traumatic arrests and homicides.
In 1990 I was accepted to the NYC Police Academy. After graduation I was assigned to the 77 Pct in Crown Heights Brooklyn. It was a high crime and drug area.
I was involved in 2 city riots and multiple shooting incidents.
I was involved in a firefight with two 14-year-old boys, who were carjacking a family. We exchanged over 30 rounds between them, my partner and I, all at close range. Thank God we were all bad shots, No one was injured. But the Family was saved.
In 1993 I was award the 2nd highest medal from the NYCPD- The prestigious Medal of Valor.
I in 1994 I was re-assigned to the Brooklyn North Narcotics Division conducting street buys and infiltrating higher level narcotics trades.
I was promoted to Detective in 1995 and did another 2 years in Narcotics, before being picked up by the Organized Crime Investigation Division (OCID) getting assigned to a team investigating one of the 5 Organized crime Families.
During the investigations in Narcotics, I was asked to return for a day to help take down a drug cartel as it was one of my previous investigations. Well as luck had it I was stabbed during the raid and as a result was forced to retire. I retired on 12/31/2000.
I was still an acting Chief in my Fire Department and when 9/11 occurred, I was in charge of a team of Firefighters who responded for Search and Rescue. I lost 13 friends that day and lost many more from the aftereffects.
PTSD was not really a known thing. My family noted big changes in my daily routine. Alcohol and anger were my normal day to days…
I finally in 2008 decided to pick up and move out of NY as I blamed it on my surroundings and not my mental health. After arriving in Texas I was floundering for employment and had no direction.
The stars began to align a bit and I found a job, got into stand-up comedy and began a radio show.
Through different events and guest appearances, I crossed paths with Samantha Horwitz.
We connected immediately through our PTSD and background experiences. We collaborated to make a change and smash the stigma of PTSD. Helping others and raising our voices. We started the not-for-profit A Badge of Honor and began doing workshops for local 1st responders. As we grew, we gained knowledge, insight and motivation to provide more. I thought it was a treatment for me being able to release my stress. I found out firsthand that workshops are only the 1st step as I was still battling, I attempted suicide in 2020. (Long Story) I ended up in a rehab in Utah for 30 days.
If not for the support network around me, I would not be here today.
Email-Jsalerno5885@Yahoo.com