There’s now a way for first responders to connect before Valentine’s Day.
New dating apps have emerged for paramedics and other public servants, allowing them to meet partners who truly understand the demands of their unpredictable jobs.
Specifically created for those in public service—like police officers, firefighters, TSA agents, and healthcare professionals—Secure launched in August and has already attracted around 1,000 users.
The app has fostered connections among civil servants, with one user being Ashley Anu, a nurse from Queens. She’s now dating a police officer she met on Secure and finds it refreshing to be with someone who gets how draining her shifts can be.
“Coming home after a 12-hour shift is really tough. I think people sometimes expect me to be in a good mood, but that’s not always how it is,” she shared.
She mentioned going on a couple of dates with other civil servants before meeting her current partner, highlighting how well they understood her commitment to work.
Queens MTA bus driver Wayz Lal has also found love through the app, stating that he no longer uses it since his relationship has become serious.
“Our schedules align pretty well, so we manage to have time off together,” he explained.
Lal pointed out that dating through traditional platforms like Tinder was challenging, as many women couldn’t grasp why he couldn’t respond to messages during long work hours.
The app’s creators, Lee Yokomi and Terrence McCall, both first responders from Queens, launched Secure in response to frustrations they faced during the pandemic. Yokomi had tried other dating apps but felt they lacked depth.
“It felt too superficial,” she admitted, describing a moment when she jokingly expressed a wish to date a firefighter, which led to brainstorming ideas for their own app.
The goal was to help users find partners who understand the unique challenges of their unpredictable schedules.
To ensure safety, potential users must provide a government-issued ID, work ID, and a live selfie, which are all verified through an identity verification platform.
Yokomi noted that this process has filtered out a significant number of applicants attempting to use false credentials.
As the app stands, it’s free to use, but there are plans for a paid subscription model in the future. Yokomi is optimistic about the positive impact the app is having, saying, “We are changing lives in the way I always wanted, both on and off duty.”
