Lets stand for the mental health of Police and Firemen

Hello. My name is Joseph Wiczulis. I am an almost 17 year Police Sergeant with the Baltimore Police Department. Most importantly, I am a single father with primary custody of two amazing kids, ages 11 and 8. I also care for my ailing father who became dependent upon me in 2022. He has no other living children. I am here humbly asking for your help. I have been involved in four line of duty shootings which unfortunately resulted in the deaths of five individuals. It’s extremely important to note that each incident involved armed gunmen who were about to shoot (guns drawn) or did shoot (two of my side partners in 2010) innocent individuals. My actions were never in question following these traumatic events. As a result, I developed PTSD in 2020. Two weeks after reporting my symptoms in to the Department I had my fourth and final fatal shooting in March 2020. Since that event, my symptoms have progressed to include physical impairments to my brain, immune system, and central nervous system. As of March 2024, I have been placed on terminal medical leave. Despite being diagnosed by four different Doctors, two of whom are employed by the city and the city’s insurance company, as having a clear line of duty injury, the City of Baltimore is the only Maryland jurisdiction that does not recognize psychological impairments for a line of duty disability retirement. Again, my trauma has also caused physical impairments which I hope to qualify me for a line of duty disability retirement. However, the FOP lawyers do not consider my case worthy to pursue. This means that’s I am left representing myself unless I can retain a private attorney. My case is likely to require appeals and challenges to the city law. This will be a very expensive legal battle, but if I win, many Police and Firemen in Baltimore City will benefit tremendously. I am also working with specialists in this field who do not always accept insurance. There are no federal assistance programs that I qualify for (requires self-harm which I thankfully have never experienced).

Imagine living with and trying to suppress PTSD as a cop or firefighter. It is not only detrimental to the individual but it is also unfair to the citizens of Baltimore. This fight is about more than me and my family. This is about changing an outdated law. This is about helping other public servants feel safe to report their own mental health struggles without the fear of losing their livelihoods.

All donations will go directly to my legal fund. Any leftover amount will be donated to other public servants going through similar situations.