For many in public safety, the job becomes more than just a career — it defines who they are.
However, when that career is unexpectedly taken away, the shift can be devastating.
Jessica Flores knows this firsthand.
Flores started her law enforcement career at just 21 years old, but an injury to her wrist abruptly ended it at 31, forcing her to leave the profession she had always envisioned for herself. The sudden loss of her career left her grappling with questions about her identity and purpose.
Through her podcast, Next Shift, and her newly launched Next Shift Academy, Flores is helping current and former law enforcement officers navigate the same difficult transition she faced. Her mission is to guide officers as they rediscover their identity, redefine their purpose and reignite their passions after leaving law enforcement.
Below, Flores opens up about her personal struggles and triumphs, offering valuable insights on how first responders can begin preparing for the challenges of transitioning out of public safety, long before it becomes a reality.
You started your law enforcement career at 21 and had it taken away at 31. How did that sudden change impact your sense of identity, and what was the most challenging part of adapting to life after your injury?
I thought I had done everything to ensure the job wasn’t my identity. I had friends outside law enforcement, a support system and hobbies. But when my career was suddenly taken away, it became all I could identify as. This was made worse by the constant rejections from job applications or receiving emails weeks or months later, saying they went in another direction. It made me question my worth, my value and everything I had achieved by the time I was 31. It felt like the world was telling me, “You’re just a cop,” confirming the doubts that were already in my mind.
Adapting to life after the injury was easy enough physically — after all, it was “just” my wrist. I had a fully functioning body aside from that one part. But that’s also what made it so hard. I had to give up my career because one critical part of my body wouldn’t and still doesn’t function the way it should. People would look at me and think, “Well, you seem fine to me,” and I mostly was, but if I had to use that part of my body to draw my gun, grab someone or fight, I knew I couldn’t. That was the toughest part — the mental tricks your mind plays on you.
What advice would you give to first responders facing a similar challenge of rediscovering themselves after leaving public safety?
My biggest piece of advice for every officer is to prepare today for what could happen tomorrow. Your career isn’t guaranteed, now more than ever. Anything can happen and take it away. You don’t need a full-fledged plan, but at least have a direction and start building a network in that area ASAP. Do the uncomfortable work of getting to know yourself. Understand who you are at your core — what drives you, what gives you a sense of purpose — and figure out your hobbies and passions. Can one of them become a side hustle that would soften the blow if your career was suddenly taken?
How has sharing your journey on your podcast helped you and others in the first responder community?
I’ve been sharing my journey on social media for nearly 7 years. It started with a fitness journey I began to “save myself” after two years of depression following the loss of my career. I originally shared my fitness progress online for accountability and my story naturally started to come out. About six years after leaving law enforcement, I launched “Next Shift” and began sharing not just my fitness journey, but also the details of my police career, the injury, the mental struggles and my transition out of law enforcement.
I realized I didn’t want to just share my story; there were so many others with similar experiences, all taking different paths. I wanted to give others hope by sharing their stories too. Some have transitioned successfully, while others tragically didn’t make it through. The feedback from posts and direct messages — from people saying they’ve felt alone for so long or that a guest’s story gave them hope — makes the entire journey worth it. Today, I feel more purposeful and impactful than I ever did as an officer. Policing was only part of my calling. I now understand that I needed that experience to serve the community in a new way.
What are some common mental and emotional roadblocks responders face when preparing for retirement or leaving the field, and how can they overcome them?
One of the biggest roadblocks is the “I’m just a first responder” mindset. We’re confident in our ability to do the job, but when it comes to thinking outside of public safety, our confidence disappears. We shrink instead of capitalizing on the strengths and skills we’ve developed. Another roadblock is losing a sense of identity and purpose when the job ends. Combine that with the loss of community and it’s a trifecta for a mindset disaster.
The No. 1 thing people can do when preparing to retire or leave the field is to reach out to those who have already gone through the transition. Everyone I’ve met who has left public safety has been willing to share their journey, offer advice and help others navigate the process. We’re building a new community, both on social media and through Next Shift Academy, where officers don’t have to go it alone.
Can you tell me about Next Shift Academy? What makes its approach unique?
Next Shift Academy just launched. It’s a virtual, private community designed for current and former law enforcement officers preparing for life after law enforcement. One thing that makes it unique is that it’s off social media, so officers don’t have to worry about being seen by co-workers, command staff or the public. Our mission is to help officers rediscover who they are, redefine their purpose and reignite their passions for what comes next.
Through a supportive community, guided lessons and practical tools, we address everything from mindset shifts to transferable skills. Whether you’re exploring new career paths or embracing retirement, Next Shift Academy ensures you don’t have to go it alone. It’s like the academy we went through to enter law enforcement — but this time, we’re unlearning what we no longer need and relearning how to be civilians.
The doors to Next Shift Academy will open for all current and former law enforcement officers on December 22, 2024, helping them set up for their best year yet. We’re still in the trial and error phase, refining what works and what doesn’t.
You’ve mentioned the “just a first responder” mindset a few times now. Can you explain why this is important for first responders to broaden their view of themselves and their potential?
Our minds are always looking for evidence of what we tell them, so if you keep saying, “I’m just a first responder,” you’ll believe it. That’s why it’s important to do the inner work and remind yourself who you are behind the badge. Make a list of your identities, passions and skills, and you’ll see that you’re so much more than “just a first responder.” Next Shift Academy or a mentor/coach can be helpful in this process. You were somebody before you became a first responder and you’ll be somebody after. The sooner you lean into that, the better off you’ll be.
First responders develop many valuable skills throughout their careers. How can they leverage those skills when exploring new opportunities outside of public safety?
First responders accumulate a wealth of transferable skills throughout their careers, many of which are valuable in other industries. Recognizing those strengths and applying them beyond public safety is key. Leadership, decision-making, problem-solving and conflict resolution are just a few examples. These skills translate well to fields like management, emergency response, security and even corporate roles.
For first responders early in their careers, what steps can they take now to set themselves up for a successful transition later?
First responders early in their careers should start preparing today for what could happen tomorrow. Even without a detailed plan, you should at least have a direction. Do the inner work to figure out your passions and interests outside the job, and consider building a side gig unrelated to law enforcement. Maintaining relationships outside the profession is also critical — those connections could open doors when you’re ready to transition.
Looking back on your own transition, is there anything you wish you had done differently?
I wish I had prepared for it! I was on long-term disability for eight months and kept thinking, “I’m only 31; there’s no way this is over.” But the reality is, this career will end one way or another. Facing that reality head-on is what helps. This experience has helped me guide others, showing them the importance of preparation, maintaining relationships outside of public safety and knowing who you are beyond the job.
How do you see the podcast and Next Shift Academy evolving to continue supporting first responders in their transition out of public safety?
With the podcast, I want to continue sharing both successful and unsuccessful transition stories. There are lessons to be learned from both and I hope to reduce the stigma around first responder mental health.
For Next Shift Academy, I want it to become the No.1 community for current and former law enforcement officers. Once we have the LE group up and running smoothly, we will expand to include separate communities for other branches of first responders — one for fire/EMS, one for emergency dispatchers and one for families.
NEXT: In this episode of the “Next Shift” podcast, Flores shares three key lessons she underestimated during her transition out of public safety, offering practical advice for first responders who are preparing for or currently navigating a similar journey.
