Lance Valcour had it all. Or so it seemed. A thirty-three-year career in policing, rising through the ranks to become an Inspector. A decorated veteran cop, respected as an expert in technology and information management systems, speaking and consulting to police services across Canada and around the world. A happy family, a loving wife and three amazing sons. That’s what everyone thought. That’s what everyone saw. If they only knew.

Lance joins 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Assocation to discuss his journey. Behind the veneer lies a deeper story of pain, anger, and a lifelong struggle with addiction and mental health. If all those cops, colleagues, clients, and even friends and family could have seen his ugly private truth, they would have detested the monster he’d become.

Lance Valcour has recently published a book with the hope to help other police officers struggling with addiction and mental health. The book is titled If They Only Knew: A Cop's Journey with Addiction and Mental Health. It is an intensely personal story, not only of one man’s demons and depression, but also of a couple’s commitment, courage, and love, of a woman who, faced with her husband’s growing venom, anger, and cruelty, found the inner strength to stand up and say, “No more. This ends today.”

This podcast and the book explores the journey of a man who, faced with this ultimatum, eventually found the strength and courage to admit that he had a problem and needed help. Who, haunted by his own self-loathing, overcame his darkest days to find serenity, peace, and fulfillment.

The OPP Association is the sole bargaining agent for the close to 10,000 members of the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada. Our members are our focus and our strength. We aim to provide important information to our members and the public about matters that affect policing in the province of Ontario.

Shift workers in high stress jobs such as policing and First Responders typically over time experience low testosterone levels, which can contribute to a number of health concerns including but not limited to depression, fatigue, low libido, increased risk of heart attack and stroke and cancer. OPP Provincial Constable Matt Aris of the Corunna Detachment joins the 10-5 Podcast along with Pharmacist Mat Rezaei to explore the issue of low testosterone, the importance of getting levels checked and monitored, and modern treatment options for low testosterone (TRT) that can lead to improved physical and mental health.

The OPP Association is the sole bargaining agent for the close to 10,000 members of the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada. Our members are our focus and our strength. We aim to provide important information to our members and the public about matters that affect policing in the province of Ontario.

Dr. Peter I. Collins is the Operational Forensic Psychiatrist, Threat and Behavioural Analysis Team, High Risk Offender Unit, Criminal Behaviour Analysis Section in the Investigation and Support Bureau of the Ontario Provincial Police. He joins 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association to discuss his highly decorated career as he reflects on semi-retirement.

If you have any questions about this episode, or have an idea for future episodes, please email communications@oppa.ca.

Music – “Line of Fire” by Jason Shaw available at Audionautix.com and used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

The OPP Association is the sole bargaining agent for the close to 10,000 members of the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada. Our members are our focus and our strength. We aim to provide important information to our members and the public about matters that affect policing in the province of Ontario.

OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique and OPP Association President John Cerasuolo are guests on 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association to discuss the highlights of 2024 for the Ontario Provincial Police and Ontario Provincial Police Association. Topics discussed are the new Uniform and Civilian Collective Agreements, the rise in assaults on police, bail reform, the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance, Ontario Police Suicide Memorial, the Canadian Police and Peace Officers' Memorial, National Peace Officers' Memorial Run, the Ride to Remember, member mental health and much more.

If you have any questions about this episode, or have an idea for future episodes, please email communications@oppa.ca.

Music – “Line of Fire” by Jason Shaw available at Audionautix.com and used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

The OPP Association is the sole bargaining agent for the close to 10,000 members of the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada. Our members are our focus and our strength. We aim to provide important information to our members and the public about matters that affect policing in the province of Ontario.

Registered Nurse Michelle Marr works for Headwaters Healthcare Centre in Orangeville as a Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) Nurse in partnership with Dufferin OPP Officers.

Michelle joins 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association to discuss the success of the Dufferin MCRT program and assert her wish for sustainable funding.

Dufferin County has one of the highest call volumes for mental health calls in Ontario.

The Dufferin MCRT have not been able to deal with all of the calls due to not having 24/7 coverage.

The Dufferin MCRT have dealt with 600 calls and made 1539 referrals in the first 11 months of 2024, reducing significantly the number of hospital visits for people experiencing mental health crisis. This not only helps members of the public, it helps to prioritize hospital emergency resources, as well as valuable police resources who traditionally have to remain at hospital with persons apprehended under the Mental Health Act.

If you wish to contact Michelle or have an idea for future episodes, please email communications@oppa.ca.

Music – “Line of Fire” by Jason Shaw available at Audionautix.com and used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

The OPP Association is the sole bargaining agent for the close to 10,000 members of the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada. Our members are our focus and our strength. We aim to provide important information to our members and the public about matters that affect policing in the province of Ontario.

Dr. Frank Stechey is a renowned Canadian forensic dentist who has been involved in several criminal investigations assisting the Ontario Provincial Police, as well as police services throughout Ontario, Canada and internationally. Dr. Stechey shares some insights on 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association about what police officers, health care and social services workers can look for to prevent, do interventions and solve child abuse, sexual assaults, homicide cases and more. Dr. Stechey was a key member of the forensic dentistry team identifying victims after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. He discusses the victim indentification process used in the aftermath of 9/11 and opens up about some of the life long trauma that he endures from his valued service.

If you would like to be in touch with Dr. Stechey or are interested in some of the articles and training materials that are referenced in the podcast please reach out on email to communications@oppa.ca .

Music – “Line of Fire” by Jason Shaw available at Audionautix.com and used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

The OPP Association is the sole bargaining agent for the close to 10,000 members of the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada. Our members are our focus and our strength. We aim to provide important information to our members and the public about matters that affect policing in the province of Ontario.

OPPA Director Dave Dube joins 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association to discuss the OPPA Modernization Committee. A summary of the presentation at the 2024 OPPA AGM is provided. If you have suggestions for the Committee or ideas for future podcast episodes please email communications@oppa.ca.

Music – “Line of Fire” by Jason Shaw available at Audionautix.com and used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

The OPP Association is the sole bargaining agent for the close to 10,000 members of the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada. Our members are our focus and our strength. We aim to provide important information to our members and the public about matters that affect policing in the province of Ontario.

Retired OPP Sergeant Steve MacNally served 37 years with the Ontario Provincial Police and was involved in the OPP Association for the majority of his career, retiring in 2024 as the OPPA Branch 1 Pesident. Steve joins 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association to discuss the value of involvement in the OPP Association. Steve opens up about his personal mental health journey hoping to inspire our OPPA members and their families to proactively look after their mental health.

For inquires about this podcast episode or suggestions for future episodes email communications@oppa.ca.

Music – “Line of Fire” by Jason Shaw available at Audionautix.com and used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

The OPP Association is the sole bargaining agent for the close to 10,000 members of the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada. Our members are our focus and our strength. We aim to provide important information to our members and the public about matters that affect policing in the province of Ontario.