The 2019 Oregon District Mass Shooting, Dayton, Ohio
It was five urgent alert calls from Dayton SWAT in the very early hours of August 4, 2019, that awakened me, out of town on active-duty military status, to abject horror. The words, “There are bodies all over the street. Nine dead. Get here now!” will reverberate in my brain for all my days to come.
The Heart of Dayton’s Community Support Network
Best of Dayton Award
Dayton, OH, March 20, 2024 - Dr. Kathy Platoni, a beacon of resilience and support, has once again been honored with the prestigious 2024 Best of Dayton Award in the Clinical Psychologists category by the Dayton Award Program. This marks her fifth consecutive year receiving this esteemed recognition.
Ohio Police Chief Magazine
At a time and in an era with the law enforcement community is at the center of the nation’s bullseye, we owe our men and women in blue a debt of gratitude beyond what words could ever convey for remaining guardians of our public safety. Their heroic deeds are too often demonized and overlooked. God bless them all.
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Dayton’s Darkest Summer - The Rise From Tragedy
Click on the image to watch Dayton recover time and time again. #DaytonStrong
The spotlight is on the people and the city of Dayton, the recovery efforts that have been put in place, and its resiliency through these trials and tribulations. This documentary also seeks to change the narrative of the city of Dayton from becoming known as a city that survived a mass shooting. Through both interviews with the survivors and experts on subjects such as tornado formation and PTSD, our documentary examines in great detail the effects that tornadoes and mass shootings can have and how difficult the recovery process can be.
Publications
Referenced chronologically and by topic.
2025
VOICES: A Letter to Logan, Fort Hood hero Killed After Action, January 10, 2025
2024
VOICES: Remembering those lost 15 years after Fort Hood Massacre, Nov. 24, 2024
VOICES: So many of us continue to struggle for years, for decades, for a lifetime, January 21, 2024
Psychologist talks mental health after mass shootings By WHIO Staff, June 28, 2024
VOICES: Stopping a Locomotive of Hatred, Dayton Daily News, July 31, 2024
The Emotional Effects of War on Service Members and Veterans
2023
VOICES: Let us all pause to remember the meaning of Veterans Day, Dayton Daily News, November 10, 2023
CISM Versus Peer Support, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc., September 28, 2023
WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio reports that workers may experience lasting mental health effects following a shooting incident, WHIO TV 7 and WHIO Radio, May 19, 2023
VOICES: Trying to come home in the dawn of every new year, Dayton Daily News, January 6, 2023
2022
VOICES: Never forget those who gave their lives serving our country Dayton Daily News, July 19, 2022
Richmond Police Officer Burton has us ‘all awash in grief and tragedy’ WHIOTV7, September 2, 2022
Celebrating the Military Service of HWS Alums Hobart and William Smith Alums, October 22, 2022
2021
Dr. Kathy Platoni, Psy.D. Receives 2021 Best of Dayton Award, Dayton Award Program, May 2, 2021
Fort Hood massacre fuels Centerville psychologist’s nearly 12-year fight, Dayton Daily News, April 16, 2021
2020
A Word About Officer Wellness, Ohio Police Chief Magazine, December 2020
Fallen veterans honored during National Wreath Across America Day ceremonies WHIO TV, December 19, 2020
6 months after Oregon District shooting: ‘We are healing together’ Dayton Daily News, February 4, 2020
Some Oregon District survivors have PTSD. Cops aren’t immune either Dayton Daily News, February 5, 2020
2019
The Dayton, Ohio Police Answered That Age Old Question, “Where is a Cop When You Need One?”
Combat Stress, August 8, 2019
Greene County vets picked for Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame
Xenia Gazette, October 16, 2019She survived the Fort Hood shooting. Now she’s counseling Dayton’s first responders. Military Times, August 2019
Dayton shooting: Ft. Hood survivor helps officers deal with stress of ‘carnage’ Dayton Daily News, August 2019
Nashport resident heads up mass casualty training Times Recorder, March 2019
2018
Most military efforts miss target on suicide prevention The National Psychologist, November 2018
Police stress reduction study has Dayton officers wearing devices off duty Dayton Daily News, November 2018
Playing it Safe: U.S. businesses, schools, and even churches are preparing themselves for proper response to active shooters Security, October 2018
Training for Survival: Training Provides Realistic Instruction on How to React in Active Shooting Incidents Training Industry, October 2018
Active Shooter: What’s Your Plan of Action? Security, August 2018
Active Shooter Training Can Help Save Lives Training Industry, August 2018
HBOT: Brain Healing Hidden in Plain Sight Part II Combat Stress, May 2018
HBOT: Brain Healing Hidden in Plain Sight Part I Combat Stress, March 2018
2017
Honoring Those Who Have Served in the U.S. Armed Forces Hobart and William Smith Colleges, November 2017
Lives of Consequence Hobart and William Smith Colleges, October 2017
The Discarded Veteran - Independence Day 2017 LemonWire, July 2017
PTSD Treatment Restricted by Cost-Containment National Psychologist, May 23, 2017
Veteran Retreats: Immersion, Healing and Bonding in Community Combat Stress, May 2017
VA Choice Care Plan Extended Dayton Daily News, April 20, 2017
The Epidemic of Veteran Suicides Combat Stress, February 2017
Ohio Military Reserve. Columbus Dispatch July 1, 2017
2016
Hasan's Victims Struggle to Carry On-San Antonio Express. March 11, 2016
Neglecting Fort Hood Survivors Is a National Disgrace. Time Magazine. April 19, 2016
Fort Hood Survivors Still Struggle to Recover. May 25, 2016
The Radicalization of Nidal Hasan- From Medical Student to Mass Murderer. Lemon Wire. August 20,2016
The Fort Hood Massacre-a Message to the Heartless. Life Net, September 27, 2016
A Perpetual Travesty of Justice – The Fort Hood Massacre. Lemon Wire. October 1, 2016
The Fort Hood Massacre 7th Anniversary ~ A Tribute to the Fallen and the Wounded. Lemon Wire. November 8, 2016
2015
Memories of Ft. Hood rampage: 'He died at my knees.' LA Times. April 9, 2015
Fort Hood shooting victims denied pay and benefits (Video). FOX News. March 22, 2015
The Army’s Fort Hood Disgrace. Wall Street Journal. March 19, 2015
Fort Hood massacre victims, wounded to get Purple Hearts. Dayton Daily News. Feb. 10, 2015
2014
Ft. Hood Victims May Get Purple Heart, Lingering Questions Remain. TownHall.com. Dec. 8, 2014
Retired Col. calls for Ft Hood massacre to be labeled terrorist attack. Dayton Daily News. Nov. 14, 2014
Killeen Worried About GI's with PTSD (pdf). San Antonio Express. April 6, 2014
Mental Health a Focus in Shooting. Dayton Daily News. April 6, 2014.
Fort Hood Tears Down Site Of 2009 Massacre. Huffington Post. Feb. 18, 2014
TheBlaze Investigation: How Obama and the Army Betrayed the Victims of Fort Hood. TheBlaze.com Feb. 12, 2014
Bury Their Purple Hearts at Ft. Hood TownHall.com. Jan. 11, 2014
2012
Army Psychologist Helps Soldiers Heal. Dayton Daily News. Sept. 12, 2012
Returning Home: Repeat deployments build trauma. Dayton Daily News. March 27, 2012
2010
Apparent suicide of soldier from Dayton reflects disturbing trend. Dayton Daily News. Dec. 5, 2010
2009
Healers Head to War, Bearing Their Own Wounds. Washington Post. Dec. 5, 2009
Fort Hood Unit Deploys Despite Losses. AP. Dec. 4, 2009
Editorial: Local Fort Hood Survivor, Other Reservists Deserve Healing. Dayton Daily News. Dec. 1, 2009
Reservists become 'family' after Fort Hood tragedy. Dayton Daily News. Nov. 29, 2009
Witnesses say reservist was Fort Hood hero. USA Today. Nov. 11, 2009
Women in the Military
Could the Doula Model Work for Women Seeking Mental Health Care? 2015
Women in combat plan opens opportunities. Dayton Daily News. Jan. 24, 2013
Darkness Made Visible. WGAW. November/December 2012
Military Women Coping With PTSD. BrainLineMilitary.org
PTSD
The police academy commencement speech every cop should read. Police1.com. March 12, 2015
White House Intruder Seen as Victim of Iraq War. Express News. Sept. 26, 2014
Soldiers Dying in Battle for Mental Health. Hartford Courant. April 4, 2014
Christopher Dorner Not A Sociopath, Experts Say. Huffington Post. Feb. 14, 2013
PTSD name change heartens advocates. Dayton Daily News. March 10, 2012.
Deployed Soldiers Cope With Illness. Newsweek. March 13, 2010
The War That Never Ends. WTOP. Dec. 21, 2009
Army official: Suicides in January "Terrifying." CNN. Feb. 5, 2009
Soldiers Self Harm: 'Anything Not to Go Back to Iraq.' Newsweek. June 7, 2008
General News
After the Shooting-Zoroya. USA Today, June 13, 2016
Dishonorable Discharges. Columbus Dispatch June 16, 2016
Orlando Shooting. USA Today, June 15, 2016
VAMC Expose. Daily Caller. July 14, 2016
IVAT Award, Hobart and William Smith Colleges. August 24, 2016
APA Slandered Military Psychologists. April 2016
Military Falls Short in Treating New PTSD Cases. Dayton Daily News February 19, 2016
Special Court Helps Veterans In Trouble. The Columbus Dispatch. Dec. 14, 2015
Platoni '74 to appear on FOX News (PDF). Hobart and William Smith Daily Update. March 20, 2015
A Healing Force (PDF). Pulteney Street Survey. Summer 2014.
Serving Her Country and Her Alma Mater (PDF). Wheeler Society. Summer 2014
Local Colonel Who Survived Fort Hood Shooting Retires. Dayton Daily News. Aug. 20, 2014
A Healing Force (PDF). Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Summer 2014
Long War Took Toll on Local Families. Dayton Daily News. March 15, 2014