The Roanoker - May/June 2014 - 34

ITH
IFE W

A FIR

OND

ESP
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First Responders:
The Other Halves Speak
First responders might be out in the field in the thick of things,
but their significant others are the ones keeping their minds off
the news headlines. We talked to the wives of a police officer
and a firefighter to see what they had to say about their
husbands' career choices.

Nicole Bruch
MARRIED TO OFFICER
DANNY BRUCH
ROANOKE COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

When Nicole and her husband Danny Bruch
met at Lynchburg College, he was studying
criminology and preparing for an internship
with the Campbell County Sheriff's Department. Nicole knew what Danny wanted to
do, but didn't consider the dangers of his
job until he was out of the Roanoke County
Police Academy. Despite the nerve-wracking
situations he could be put in, Nicole has never
wished anything else for him.
"He is so good at what he does. His personality is the perfect fit for police work,"
she says.
Nicole might not know the type of calls
Danny gets at work, but she's developed a
bad habit of checking the news websites
when he's on duty. Despite the fear of the
unknown, Nicole is proud of Danny's calling,
acknowledging it takes a special person to be
a police officer.
"They see humanity at its worst, whether
it's abused children or a drunk driving acci-

dent that took the lives of innocent people.
They have to remain positive and do what's
right; treat everyone the same as if they're
helping someone they love, even if people spit
on them or scream obscenities. I can't imagine
being in their shoes, to put my life on the line
every day for strangers."
Danny has now been with the Roanoke
County Police Department for almost four
years. When he isn't working, he and Nicole
spend time together with their two dogs,
Linus and Sally.

Theresa Dixon
MARRIED TO JOHN DIXON
ROANOKE CITY FIRE-EMS

John Dixon, profiled in the main piece of this
article, has been married to wife Theresa for 28
years. They met in high school, when Theresa
fell for a blonde-haired drummer destined to
protect his community. Nearly three decades
later, Theresa still gets lost in his eyes and admits her heart skips a beat when he speaks.
When John told Theresa what he wanted
to do with his life, she supported him 100 percent. She knew it wouldn't be an easy road
- not only because of what she'd have to do

for their family, but because of the death and
destruction he'd see on the job - but she knew
it was John's passion.
Their children have followed in their father's footsteps; their daughter, 19, is pre-med
while their son, 26, is a firefighter paramedic.
Theresa admits the anxiety doubled when her
son decided to go into the field.
"I knew my role as the wife of a firefighter, but as the mom of a young man that I've
spent my entire life protecting from harm is
not as easy. I pray every day," Theresa says.
For those brides who are still adjusting to
their husbands' dangerous careers or schedules, Theresa is firm in her advice. Being the
wife of a paramedic firefighter is a tough job,
but when she said "I do," she meant it.
"You are the one that will raise the kids,
juggle your job, the kids' schedules, your husband's hours. And if anything goes wrong, it'll
surely be while he's at the firehouse."
She admits it's been difficult at times, but
despite the hardships, she knows this life is in
John's blood, as well as her son's.
"I love that man as much today, if not
more, than the day we met!" she conveys
in an email, with a smile nearly showing
through. -LL

"They see humanity at its worst, whether it's abused children or a drunk driving
accident that took the lives of innocent people. They have to remain positive and do
what's right; treat everyone the same as if they're helping someone they love, even
if people spit on them or scream obscenities. I can't imagine being in their shoes, to
put my life on the line every day for strangers."
34 MAY/JUNE 2014

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The Roanoker - May/June 2014

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