Mike Gonzalez

Team Member

Mike worked as a firefighter, engineer and captain for 28 years with the South San Francisco Fire Department in San Mateo County, California. He retired in 2004. Mike joined the San Mateo County Critical Incident Team and helped start the South San Francisco Fire Department Critical Incident Team in 1999.

Mike received Firefighter of the Year in 1998 from the Elks Lodge and Fire Department in South San Francisco and the Bridge to Life award from the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation in 2002.

Mike has been trained in individual crisis intervention and support (basic and advanced), group crisis intervention and support (basic and advanced), thought field therapy, death notification, suicide intervention and support (basic and advanced) and resiliency training.

Mike is happily married to his wife of 45 years, a father of two and grandfather of four. He enjoys hiking, fishing and reading but his favorite moments are just playing with his grandchildren. He volunteers with the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation and the San Mateo County Critical Incident Team.
Mike likes to say that it is in the doing that you find the reward. Working with a group of people who have professionally given back to the community and are now volunteering to support those who are putting their health on the line to protect and serve the community in which we live gives a feeling of camaraderie, friendship and satisfaction that can be rare. Only outdone by the feeling that comes when you see the look of relief in someone’s eyes when they are able to normalize a critical event.
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Public Safety Departments need to buy updated equipment and technology to be able to protect the people and property of their community. That equipment and technology will not and cannot work as well or efficiently without the people who run it. It is of utmost importance that we keep our public safety workers healthy both physically and mentally so that they can perform better, longer, with less time off of work and finally so that when their careers end they can enjoy the fruits of their retirement.

Mike Gonzalez