Episode Details

Twenty-five rounds in seven seconds can change everything, even if you “look fine” afterward. We’re joined by retired detective Elizabeth Ponte, who shared her story for the first time publicly with Chapter Blue in March of 2025, and is our closing feature to Women's Month in 2026. Nearly nine years in law enforcement, years spent in special victims and high-crime investigations, and the undercover ambush that left her shot in her trigger finger and forced to rebuild her life from the inside out.

We talk through what the public rarely hears about officer involved shootings and PTSD in law enforcement: the foggy memory, the body-camera moments at the hospital, the nightmares that make sleep feel unsafe, and the long recovery road of surgery, physical therapy, talk therapy, and EMDR. Elizabeth also gets honest about what happens after the initial crisis response, when check-ins fade, scheduling therapy becomes another stressor, and you’re still expected to carry cases, show up, and parent like nothing happened.

The conversation goes beyond trauma into identity and transition. Elizabeth describes retiring, feeling empty without the badge, and learning how to regulate her nervous system again so she can be present with her daughter. We dig into boundaries, first responder wellness practices that actually helped her, and why women in policing, especially moms, need stronger support systems and leadership that looks past the “check the box” approach.

If this resonates, share it with one officer or first responder who needs it, subscribe to Chapter Blue, and leave a review so more people can find these stories. 

Email: elizabethponte216@gmail.com

IG handle: @elizabethponte__

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