Saving Lives, on or off Duty

Saving Lives, on or off Duty

From The Illinois State Police Podcast by Kurtis Productions Ltd

November 13, 2025 · 56 min · Season 1 · Episode 6

About this episode

This episode explores the heroic actions of Illinois State Police officers in life-saving situations, both on and off duty, and the mental toll these incidents take on them.

As we open this file from the Illinois State Police we enter the world of instant decision-making to save lives. Among the oath taken by officers of the law is a commitment to safeguarding lives. Many times, the action involves a traffic crash, and sometimes, it’s an armed dispute. Regardless of the circumstance, Illinois State Police are upholding their oath and taking action. In this episode, host Director Brendan Kelly will be speaking with and hearing the stories of multiple heroic State Police Officers involved in lifesaving incidents. Some were on regular patrol duties or responding to calls, and some just happened to be in the right place at the right time, even during off-duty hours. While heroism is often celebrated, what is often not discussed is the toll taken on officers in these scenarios, both during the incidents and afterwards. This, and much more, will be explored and discussed by those who have lived through moments like these. Guests include ISP Trooper Wes Van Hook, Master Sergeant Mark Flack, Special Agent Eric Heberer, Sergeant Cynthia Pfau W., and Master Sergeant Ross Green.

People in this episode

Host: Brendan Kelly

Guests: Wes Van Hook, Mark Flack, Eric Heberer, Cynthia Pfau W., Ross Green

Topics covered

  • heroism
  • law enforcement
  • life-saving incidents
  • off-duty actions
  • mental toll on officers

Keywords

  • Illinois State Police
  • heroism
  • traffic crash
  • armed dispute
  • off-duty officers
  • mental health
  • life-saving

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Illinois State Police

More episodes of The Illinois State Police Podcast

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Illinois State Police Podcast podcast page.