Thin Blue Mind: A Cop's Journey Through Trauma, Truth, and Healing

For ten years, Officer Oscar Benitez patrolled the streets of Dodd, Illinois-a small town hiding very real pain. He wore the badge with pride, but behind the uniform was a man unraveling. From the first chaotic calls of his rookie year to the night a child died in his arms, Oscar witnessed both the nobility and the darkness of policing.

This is not just another cop story. The Thin Blue Mind is a raw, unfiltered memoir of a police officer battling PTSD, alcoholism, grief, and the silent culture that rewards toughness but punishes vulnerability. When the job cost him his fiancée, his mental health, and nearly his life, Oscar stepped away-and began a long, uncertain road toward healing.
Now a licensed trauma therapist who works with first responders, Oscar returns with a powerful account of what it means to serve, to suffer, and to come back from the edge. With courage and compassion, he breaks the silence around mental health in law enforcement and invites readers to see the human being behind the badge.

Part confession, part call to action-this book is for anyone who has ever worn a uniform, loved someone who has, or questioned what it costs to protect and serve.