#57 - Shot Six Times: A Law Enforcement Officer's Survival Story w/TJ Webb
Manage episode 479884927 series 3553809
What happens when a routine warrant service turns into a life-altering gunfight? TJ shares his harrowing journey of survival after being shot six times at point-blank range while serving on a U.S. Marshals Task Force.
From the moment bullets tore through his body—striking his face, shoulder, hands, arm, and shattering his femur—TJ takes us through every vivid detail of his fight to stay alive. The split-second decision-making, the voice in his head screaming "you failed," and the determination to crawl under a vehicle as gunfire continued around him showcase the raw reality of officer-involved shootings.
But this story extends far beyond the shooting itself. TJ's recovery journey reveals shocking gaps in how departments support wounded officers. Despite catastrophic injuries, he received virtually no mental health resources—a disturbing reality many first responders face. While doctors told him running again would take two years, TJ set an ambitious goal to complete a half marathon within 12 months. Against all medical expectations, he succeeded.
Perhaps most powerful is TJ's approach to trauma recovery. Rather than avoiding the shooting location, he deliberately visited it repeatedly until it held no power over him. "I didn't want that parking lot of blacktop and concrete to own me," he explains. "I wanted to own that parking lot."
Through candid discussions about police culture, administrative failures, and life after the badge, TJ offers rare insights into law enforcement realities while demonstrating extraordinary resilience. His journey reminds us that while trauma can permanently change us, our response to it ultimately defines us.
Have you considered how you would rebuild your life if everything you identified with was suddenly stripped away? Listen now for a masterclass in finding purpose beyond adversity.
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Chapters
1. Introduction and Law Enforcement Background (00:00:00)
2. Academy Training and Early Police Career (00:18:10)
3. Code Switching and Administrative Issues (00:33:51)
4. K-9 Work and Task Force Experience (00:51:25)
5. The Night of the Shooting (01:06:35)
6. Hospital Recovery and Family Impact (01:27:20)
7. Rehabilitation and Learning to Walk Again (01:49:45)
8. Finding Purpose After Law Enforcement (02:07:30)
9. Mental Health in Law Enforcement (02:20:35)
10. Life Today and Lessons Learned (02:39:40)
61 episodes