Jason has been a first responder since 2008 when he graduated from the Police Training Institute at the University of Illinois in Champaign. Since that time he has held several roles within the police departments he has worked in. This include: Therapy K-9 handler, Hostage/Crisis Negotiator and team leader; Crash Investigator; Lead Homicide Investigator; Drug Recognition Expert, and others. Currently Jason is working as a full-time Licensed Professional Counselor at Koen Counseling and Wellness Center in Herrin, Illinois. The passion he obtained from his time as an officer relating to mental health, including his own personal journey, has led him to this new field. He believes that there is a lot he can do in the mental health field to first responders, and knows the struggle of finding a counselor, especially in southern Illinois, who truly understands what a first responder goes through.