About Davin

For 31 years, I served the people of San Francisco in law enforcement, beginning in patrol and rising to the rank of lieutenant. I led many specialized units, including K9 and the Homeless Outreach Unit. I also served as a Field Training Officer, FTO Sergeant, and Academy Instructor, teaching Procedural Justice and Implicit Bias, CIT Tactics, and De-Escalation. I was also a key contributor to the department’s Collaborative Reform efforts with the Department of Justice.

But behind the uniform, I was silently falling apart. After an on-duty injury, I was prescribed pain medication that led to a decade-long addiction. That addiction, fueled by undiagnosed Complex PTSD, eventually drove me to a desperate act — I was arrested for robbing a pharmacy. I served six months in jail. It was the lowest point of my life, but it became the turning point.

Since then, I’ve committed myself to recovery, reflection, and rebuilding. Today, I use my experience to speak openly about addiction, trauma, accountability, and healing — especially in the first responder community, where silence often feels like the only option. My story is a cautionary tale, but also a message of hope. Recovery is possible. Redemption is real.

I’m now a public speaker and advocate, working to break the stigma around mental health in law enforcement and beyond. I’m also a husband and a proud father of two amazing daughters who inspire me every day to keep showing up — with honesty, courage, and heart.

You can survive. You can heal. And you are never alone