VIDEO: First responders see the unthinkable every single day, including tragic car crashes, incidents involving children, shootings and more. They carry that experience with them for the rest of their lives. Heath Perry and his mother have made it their mission to support first responders in Manatee and Sarasota counties by giving them a “normal place, after normal hours.” Just off of Manatee Avenue East in Bradenton, you’ll find Lt. Perry’s Place.
“This is a safe space for all first responders of Sarasota and Manatee counties,” said Heath Perry.
Lt. Perry’s Place brings comfort when needed with a full kitchen, weight room, two pianos, game room, recreation activities and a counseling space. “It’s a space where they can come and decompress after their hard shifts,” said Heath. Heath Perry and his mother founded the non-profit Joe Perry Lives Inc. in honor of his younger brother, Lt. Joseph Perry. He was a 22-year veteran of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office before he died by suicide in June 2015. “He worked all faucets, from crimes against children to detective to internal affairs. He did every aspect of the job and with that comes all the horrible things that you deal with,” said Heath.
Lt. Perry put on a strong front โ as many first responders do. “Everybody is expected to just have that coat of armor, itโs okay to ask for help, itโs okay to have a shoulder to cry on. Itโs okay to unload your baggage,” he said.
Lt. Perry’s Place is working to bring that community together.
“I just knew this was something I wanted to be a part of,” said Kelvin Foster, a chaplain for the North River Fire Rescue District who is also a U.S. Navy veteran and former firefighter. The average civilian might see one or two traumas in their lifetime; the average first responder will see over 900 over the course of their careers,” Foster said. “I was a former firefighter; we never talked about how you deal with that stuff. Most compartmentalize, and it builds up and over time it has a negative impact. Having a space like this form keeping those piling up, I think, is a game changer.”
