Police officers are trained to put their emotions in a box. Compartmentalization in policing is often what gets them through one more shift, one more crime scene, one more tragedy, and what keeps them safe. What happens when that box tips over? For many law enforcement officers and their families, it takes one personal crisis for every hidden nightmare to come rushing back.

In this conversation with Detective Jody Thompson, his wife's near-death experience during childbirth was the breaking point that brought years of law enforcement trauma crashing to the surface. His story is a reminder of how first responder mental health can't wait until retirement and how police officer marriage struggles are tied directly to how trauma is carried or ignored.

Good Cop Better Cop

Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship.

The Top 10 Things Every Law Enforcement Spouse Should Know

Alcohol has long been embedded in first responder culture. From "choir practice" after shifts to bonding at happy hour, drinking can feel like part of the job. But for many officers, firefighters, and their spouses, what starts as social connection can quietly become a coping mechanism for trauma, stress, and the constant adrenaline rush of the job. When alcohol moves from the sidelines to center stage, the impact ripples far beyond the individual. It affects families, marriages, and entire departments.

Joe Rizzuti, retired police officer and founder of First Responder Wellness of Merrimack Valley, shared that alcohol was once deeply tied to his identity. He admitted, "If alcohol came to the table today, it would not be legal. We know the damage it does." Joe has now been in recovery for over 13 years, and his story reflects a growing recognition that alcohol misuse in law enforcement is more than a personal issue; it's a cultural one.

First Responder Wellness

Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship.

The Top 10 Things Every Law Enforcement Spouse Should Know

When an officer serves, the entire family serves. In police families, stress doesn't stop at the end of a shift; it echoes through the home, shaping the way spouses and children experience daily life. While much attention is given to officer wellness, the resilience of the whole family, especially children, is equally important.

For children growing up in police families, safety and unpredictability often live side by side. They notice details that many of their peers overlook, such as locked doors, tense body language, or whether mom or dad seems on edge after a shift. This constant scanning can develop into hypervigilance, shaped not only by family culture but also by generational factors, such as high ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) scores, which are common among first responders.

Without intentional resilience strategies, these stressors can quietly translate into fear, disconnection, or long-term emotional strain that follows them into adulthood.

Warrior's Rest Foundation

Hold the Line: The Essential Guide to Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship.

The Top 10 Things Every Law Enforcement Spouse Should Know