LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- From homicides to fatal fires and crashes -- first responders are often on the frontlines of some of the most traumatic events. They answer the call to serve and protect, and now, Metro Government is trying to protect them from the post-traumatic stress and anxiety that often come with the job.

That's where Steven Kelsey comes in. A 25-year veteran of the Louisville Metro Police Department, Kelsey responded to many disturbing scenes in his career. 

"We were the first responders to respond to most of the catastrophic homicide scenes, seeing the bodies lying there," he said Tuesday.

Kelsey was also first on the scene in May 2006 when a woman was murdered and her 2-year-old was shot in the head and left for dead.

"I put her in my police car, and ... we drove down Dixie Highway, flew down Broadway, had the streets blocked to take her to the hospital to potentially save her life," he said.

That 2-year-old girl, Erica Hughes, survived the shooting but was left with some physical scars. Kelsey said he and other first responders were also left with some scars but ones you can't see.

"I just went on a catastrophic, traumatic run," he said. "I have not debriefed, but now, I had runs waiting for me."

Kelsey is also an ordained minister, and, since retiring from LMPD, he has gone back to school and got a Ph.D. in psychology. In July, Dr. Kelsey started working for the city again, providing counseling services for Louisville's first responders.

Mayor Craig Greenberg said adding Kelsey to MetroSafe was a bipartisan decision funded by Metro Council.

Craig Greenberg

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg. Oct. 10, 2023. (WDRB Photo)

"We asked them to do a difficult job every day -- dealing with some of the biggest crises our city faces, and that often takes its toll on individuals," Greenberg said. "This is about helping public servants who are doing incredibly important work every day."

And Dr. Kelsey has been busy. He's worked with many of the first responders who were on the scene of April's shooting at Old National Bank.

"I have had about seven or eight police officers that have come to me," he said. "I've had at least 12 EMS workers have come here."

Greenberg said the feedback from first responders has been positive. The city is also in the process of opening the LMPD Wellness Center later this month.

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