Season 3, Episode 7: Dina Campbell-Outside the Line

In this episode of 8158: Stories of Sacrifice, Rico sits down with Dena Campbell, a 14.5-year NYPD officer who never planned on wearing the uniform—until a “backup plan” turned into a calling. Dena shares what it was like coming on the job in 2011, learning policing through Operation Impact, working through Hurricane Sandy, and surviving the chaos of 2020—a season she describes as feeling like you were “an extra on a movie set.” But this conversation goes deeper than the calls. Dena opens up about why she stepped into peer support and Employee Assistance work, the reality of suicide contagion within departments, and the life-altering moment that forced her to face her own trauma after her daughter was pinned in a school bus accident. She talks honestly about panic, hypervigilance, stigma, and how EMDR helped her realize: you can’t pour from an empty cup. This episode is about the hardest part of the job that nobody trains you for— and the truth that matters most: You are not alone. 💙 🎧 Plus: Dena shares her mission behind Outside the Line (her podcast + her Thin Line Rock Station show), and why staying “anchored” outside the uniform can save lives—during the career and after retirement. 🔗 Connect with Dena Radio Show (Thin Line Rock Station): Outside the Line — Sundays 2–4 PM EST Podcast: Outside the Line (available on all major platforms) Facebook / LinkedIn: Dena Campbell Instagram: @outsidethelinepodcast Instagram: @flawdyetfaithful 💙 Support the mission: Donate to the William H. “Bill” Butler Jr. Foundation: 🔗 https://www.8158podcast.com 🎙 Want to be a guest? Schedule an interview here: 🔗 http://Patreon.com/8158podcast