Local couple turns personal trauma into public safety mission

HARRISBURG, Pa. — If a picture is worth a thousand words, a photo of a totaled police cruiser would tell the remarkable story of survival.

"I remember saying we're going to get hit and then the next thing I remember I'm out of the police car somehow leaning against the medium and I just see blood pouring from my head.  The impact was 70 miles an hour from behind," said Pennsylvania State Trooper Eric Smith.  Smith was on duty when he survived a near-fatal crash on I-81 in April 2020.

"My initial thought was I don't know how I'm still here," said Smith. "It was not time for me- for whatever reason, like whatever you believe in, it was not my time to go."

His recovery over the last five years hasn't been easy. 

"I've had a headache 24/7 since April 2020 that never full goes away... my eyes don't work properly together, which in police work you need your eyes," he said.  

His challenges weren't just physical, but also mental. 

"I'm trying to do everything I can, above and beyond, to get myself back and that's my goal. I miss it. Law enforcement is one of my biggest passions," said Smith.

His wife Kate discovered the Adopt a Cop BJJ program, offering free Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training to officers. 

"It's very much about mental health as much as it is physical, so I'm like, let's just go," she said. "Let's talk to them, tell them your list of ailments and see if it's something they can scale for his recovery and for me, learning to be a partner with."

The program didn't just help, it changed everything. 

"Training BJJ shifted that mentality from being I'm going to be messed up forever, to alright, I am messed up, but I came get back and it's really motivated me to keep going," said Eric.

Kate saw his transformation on the mat firsthand. 

"It's hard and it sucks and that's part of why it's so rewarding," she said. 

Eric noticed something else: How the martial art could benefit law enforcement especially. 

"This is great for use of force, this is great for suspect control. This is great for officer injury, for suspect injury and community safety... and we're like this should be more accessible," he said.

That's why the pair launched "Seminar Stack," a company that hosts large training events open to not just law enforcement, but to anyone. 

It blends Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with real-world safety skills like trauma response, gun retention and de-escalation techniques.

Their goal is simple: enhance officer safety, strengthen community trust and make sure people walk away with tools they can use if the unthinkable happens.

"Try and better yourself in any way, and like- even if your hurt, try and find something to make it a little better and jiu-jitsu is a great way to do that,”

The next Seminar Stack event is set for Aug. 2 at Hollywood Casino in Grantville.