Law enforcement officers and their spouses often underestimate how undercover work, adrenaline addiction, and hidden trauma can slowly erode a law enforcement marriage. This episode shows both the officer and spouse perspective—how secrecy, overwork, and unprocessed incidents affect relationships—and offers hope, police spouse support, communication tools, and perspective for couples navigating similar challenges.
In this candid interview, retired undercover narcotics officer Brent Cartwright and his wife Wesley share the realities of a police family living through dangerous assignments, long hours, and the aftermath of a line-of-duty shooting. You'll hear:
How undercover life fueled adrenaline addiction and secrecy
The day Brent was shot six times and survived
Wesley's story as a police spouse supporting an injured officer
The impact of PTSD and unprocessed trauma on a LEO marriage
How they rebuilt trust, improved spouse communication, and found balance between home life and the demands of law enforcement work
Hosted by Cyndi Doyle, licensed professional counselor, retired police spouse, and author of Hold the Line, this conversation pulls back the curtain on the challenges of supporting a police spouse and surviving the hidden costs of the job—without sensationalism, but with practical tools and cultural understanding.
📘 Get Hold the Line: Protecting Your Law Enforcement Relationship → https://www.amazon.com/Hold-Line-Protecting-Enforcement-Relationship-ebook/dp/B08TPRTY9G#customerReviews
🎤 Book Cyndi to speak → https://code4couples.com/training/
📕 Get Brent's book Undercover Junkie: Chasing the High, Confronting Trauma, and Unraveling the Aftermath → https://www.amazon.com/Undercover-Junkie-Chasing-Confronting-Unraveling/dp/B0DR5GVWHV?utm_source=chatgpt.com
00:00 – Intro & guest welcome
02:00 – How Brent & Wesley met and built their life together
06:00 – Transition into undercover life
10:00 – Impact of long hours & adrenaline culture on marriage
16:00 – The day of the shooting
23:00 – Wesley's perspective as a law enforcement spouse getting "the call"
30:00 – Recovery, therapy, and rebuilding trust
44:00 – Writing Undercover Junkie and sharing the truth
53:00 – Advice for police families
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