Why I Opened the Peel Chapter of Beyond the Blue – Caitlin Alwyn’s Story

My name is Caitlin Alwyn. I currently work full-time in the Insurance industry. I am married to Det. Constable John Alwyn and together we have three daughters. 

Over the past ten years, I have faced many of the typical challenges of being married and raising a family. However, as the wife of a police officer, there are some challenges that I did not see coming. They are unique and can sometimes only be understood by those who walk the same line as you. There is also the element of fear that lives in the back of your mind that something could happen to your spouse at work. 

In 2015 this fear became a reality for me after John was shot while responding to a 911 call.  

After the initial shock and disbelief of what had happened, I was overwhelmed with relief and gratitude that his injuries were not fatal and I still have a husband, and my kids still have a father. But as life goes on, the stresses of everyday life with three young kids and an injured husband set in. I was hit with a tremendous amount of emotion and sometimes overwhelming feelings of fear, anger and frustration, and I had no one I could relate to or share it with. No one I knew had ever been through something like this.

With each experience I went through, I learned more about myself, my internal strength and my ability to cope with and overcome obstacles that were in my way. When I look back now, just after John was shot, I know I would have loved the chance to speak to another spouse who understood what I was feeling and could reassure me that what I was experiencing was okay. 

This is why I jumped at the opportunity to start a chapter of Beyond the Blue in Peel. I wanted to offer validation and support to anyone else who may be struggling with the unique challenges and emotions that come with being part of a law enforcement family.

Now I offer my support to others and their families and lean on others who feel as I do through Peel Beyond the Blue.

For information about the Green Epaulette campaign, please read our article “Why Peel Regional Police Officers are Wearing Green Epaulettes in May and June”. 

Community safety and well-being is a partnership.  Let’s do this together.