From Badge to Book: RL Carpentier on Truth, Trauma, and Small-Town Crime

A cop who writes it how it really feels. RL Carpentier spent nearly two decades in law enforcement before channeling the ghosts, grit, and quiet truths into the Overlook crime-fiction trilogy. We talk wellness that actually works, telling the truth safely through fiction, and why the stories we carry need a way out. Podbean — Description / Show Notes ⚠️ PODCAST DISCLAIMER The following content is graphic, emotional, and includes dark humor that may not be suitable for all listeners. Discretion is advised. These stories are based on real-life EMS and first responder experiences. Calls are real. Providers are real. Names and details are changed to protect privacy. Any medical discussion is personal experience — not protocol. Use your damn brain. Follow your local guidelines. And when in doubt — call med control. If you’re struggling, don’t do it alone. Talk to someone. Or reach out to me — I’ll answer. Need help right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. — Today’s Guest: RL Carpentier (pronounced “car-pen-tee-AIR”) Lieutenant, nearly 20 years in law enforcement Author of the small-town crime trilogy that begins with Our Lady of the Overlook Writes to humanize the badge — no trauma porn, just the real weight and the aftermath What we cover “Fiction lets you tell the truth safely” — using story to process real events without exploiting them Wellness that works: peer support, CISM done right, and why creative outlets (writing, music, drums) beat numbing out The rookie’s reality vs. TV myths (jurisdictions! it’s county sheriffs) Carrying ghosts: how leadership, family, and honest debriefs keep the job from hollowing you out What cops, medics, and writers share: big stories, bigger humility — and knowing when not to over-embellish Connect with RL Carpentier Website: rlcarpentierwriter.com Facebook: RL Carpentier – Small Town Mystery / Crime Procedural Writer Newsletter: biweekly via his website Books: Our Lady of the Overlook (Book 1) + Book 2 out now; Book 3 in progress Pull-quotes “Expression beats repression.” “You’re not Robocop. You bring your family, bills, and bad days to work — and you still have to be human in uniform.” “Healthy outlets create distance without denial.” Support & Resources 🧠 Need support right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight. Listen on your favorite platform Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dispatched-dysfunctional/id1823016738 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/5Qg5QirllVlFHLzRrnpucy Amazon Music → https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c28a5312-d5de-47c3-b692-ed3932106989 iHeartRadio → https://iheart.com/podcast/282880332 Player FM → https://player.fm/series/3673933 Podchaser → https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/dispatched-dysfunctional-6139714 Boomplay → https://www.boomplaymusic.com/podcasts/134254 Or stream on Podbean: https://Dispatchedanddysfunctional.podbean.com/ — 🧠 SUPPORT OUTRO Need support right now? Text or call 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. Want to share your story or connect? Visit critical-run.com or message the Facebook page Dispatched and Dysfunctional. We’re building this — for you, for them, for all of us. 🧠 Need support right now? Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. You’re not alone — not in this job, not in this fight. 📱 Follow us on Facebook: Dispatched and Dysfunctional   🌐 Visit: www.critical-run.com to connect, share your story, or just vent   🎤 Got a call that changed you? Submit your story — we’ll carry it with care (and maybe a little dark humor). ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast contains graphic content, emotional storytelling, and dark humor based on real-life EMS and first responder experiences. Listener discretion is advised.   Any medical discussion is personal opinion, not medical advice. Always follow your local protocols, medical direction, and training guidelines. This podcast isn’t about fairy tales. It’s about real calls, real chaos, and the medics who survive both.   Dispatched & Dysfunctional — because sometimes the worst calls… make the best stories.