"I was called to assist with an alleged veteran potentially trying to steal a Blackhawk helicopter." - Eric Peterson

When the Kankakee County Sheriff's Department receives a dispatch about someone attempting to steal a Blackhawk helicopter, who do they turn to for help? On this episode of This One Time in Kankakee on the WVLI Podcast Network, host Jake LaMore sits down with Eric Peterson—6-time combat veteran, founder and CEO of Project Headspace and Timing, and Superintendent of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Kankakee County. Eric shares the surreal story behind the "Blackhawk call" and explains how years of building trust with local law enforcement, Riverside Hospital, and first responders made him the first person deputies thought to call. Beyond the headline-grabbing incident, Eric opens up about the raw, unfiltered realities of veteran crisis mental health work. He reflects on two deeply moving encounters from his years in peer support: guiding a Vietnam War combat veteran through decades of buried guilt, and navigating a high-stakes crisis response along Route 102 with an Iraq War veteran. It’s an episode about trust, trauma, community resilience, and what it truly means to sit with someone in their darkest moments. 👉 Subscribe & Listen: Stream now on the WVLI Podcast Network or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about veteran peer support at Project Headspace and Timing. Send us Fan Mail Want more from the WVLI Podcast Network? Listen to the WVLI News Update with Rob West every weekday morning! Get the days local news from the greater Kankakee County, IL area in 10 minutes or less.  Subscribe now on your preferred podcast platform: https://wvlinewsupdate.buzzsprout.com The Voices You Trust, Beyond The Dial.