Ross County — A sergeant in the Sheriff’s department who was shot at and had to fatally return fire asked the commissioners to help him set up a pioneering program to make mental health available to first responders…three years to the day after the incident.
Sergeant Eric Kocheran, recently retired from the Ross County Sheriff’s office, founded the “KocheranStrong Foundation” after recovering from the shooting. He explained his newly energized initiative to get mental health services available to first responders in Ross County with low or costs and no stigma.
Kocheran had answered the back door of the Sheriff’s department on November 17th, 2022, where 42-year-old Nicholas Mitchell mysteriously told him that someone wanted him to hurt kids and that he wouldn’t do that…so instead he had “to do this,” and opened fire on Kocheran.
Kocheran returned fire and killed Mitchell, but was struck multiple times himself, and spent eight days in a coma and had many surgeries…but eventually returned as a hero. He says he has also struggled with mental health because of the incident.
He said the video of the shooting the had been released has circulated on the internet and garnered support from people all over the country.
Kocheran approached the Ross County Commissioners on November 17th, 2025, for $10K of funding to start his foundation’s initiative help with costs for counseling and to break down barriers and stigmas.
He said he had reached the right point to get started now that he is retired and has more time – and had a chance meeting with Daniel Matthews, owner and clinician at “Dirty South Therapeutics.”
Matthews joined him before the commissioners. He said when he was interning at the VA Medical Center, he realized that veterans need care even when they are out of service, as well as first responders – who are often veterans. Matthews said the healthier they are, the better they can do their job, and the healthier their families are.
They pointed out that the average person has two or three traumatic events in their lifetime – but first responders average 2,300 traumatic events. They also said that suicide is one of biggest killers of first responders, who can have four or five traumas per shift, but must act like the trauma did not happen and continue their job. This includes EMT’s, as well as police and Sheriff’s officers.
Commissioner Oody Lowe, himself retired from the Chillicothe Police and Sheriff’s departments, asked how to work with first responders who are often resistant to seeking mental health treatment.
Kocheran said he wanted to be able to go to department heads with services and information, and let them set policy to encourage or require treatment – including being able to get local treatment within 48 hours. Telehealth would also allow treatment without stigma.
Kocheran said he was 20 days into his 90-day plan to have a fund to pay 100% of mental health for first responders, gearing up in January. He said there are few programs like this in the country, and he would be happy to pioneer this so allow others can copy it.
The “KocheranStrong Foundation” has a Facebook page. They also have a fundraiser for December 4th at the Jaycee’s Golf Course Building, “A Winter’s Eve Annual Fundraising Dinner.” Also find Matthew’s “Dirty South Theraputics” online.
Hear both of them in their own words in the below video.
