Law Enforcement Talk: True Crime and Trauma Stories
Episode Title: Police Addicted to Drugs And His Amazing Recovery
Host: John "Jay" Wiley
Guest: Brock Bevel, Retired Mesa, Arizona Police Officer
Date: December 26, 2025
Episode Overview
This powerful episode focuses on the lived experience of Brock Bevel, a retired Mesa Police officer whose law enforcement career was cut short by a traumatic line-of-duty injury. The injury led to multiple surgeries, opioid prescriptions, and years of addiction—a path many first responders quietly endure. Brock shares his journey through trauma, substance abuse, loss, and ultimately, remarkable recovery. The conversation also touches on the larger issues of trauma within police work, the perils of opioid dependence, and Brock's ongoing work to assist other first responders facing similar battles.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Brock's Law Enforcement Career & Injury
[02:09] – [08:48]
- Brock served 7.5 years with the Mesa, Arizona police, including plainclothes and undercover street crime work.
- Notably worked in a special crimes unit (SCAT), focusing on drugs, prostitution, and undercover operations.
- The role was high-adrenaline, shifting from "Nitro Circus every night to riding a tricycle the next day" after his career was abruptly ended by injury.
- Brock describes feeling that his service “was cut too short,” echoing common sentiments among officers forced to retire before intended.
2. Traumatic Incidents & Lasting Effects
[09:36] – [14:30]
- Brock recounts a harrowing shooting incident:
"He gets out of the truck, he has a knife in his hand...bean bagged him, canine, pepper sprayed, entry team...nothing worked. He drove head-on to my police car, where I shot him through the windshield and killed him."
— Brock Bevel [09:53] - The emotional toll is highlighted through a deposition with the suspect’s family:
"She asked me, ‘Officer Bevel, if you had a chance to do it again, would you kill my son?’...with my training...I would have to."
— Brock Bevel [10:46] - Subsequent trauma: an undercover operation to bust a drug-fueled child prostitution deal resulted in Brock being run over, sustaining serious injuries.
3. The Descent into Opioid Addiction
[18:42] – [26:43]
- Brock was prescribed opioids following multiple surgeries. His doctor incorrectly assured him:
“You’re never going to get hooked on these things.”
— Brock Bevel [19:16] - He initially rationalized his use—"I just got run over by a truck"—but found the drugs eased both physical and psychological pain.
- Brock began manipulating doctors to maintain supply and soon crossed the line into addiction, a process accelerated by the abrupt end of his career:
“The more opioids I took, the better my leg felt...mentally, I’m starting to collapse.”
— Brock Bevel [22:06] - He highlights the sudden social isolation following medical retirement:
“No phone calls...no one coming over, nobody talking to you. You don’t know what’s going on. You are isolated, alone.”
— Brock Bevel [22:51]
4. Addiction's Impact, Rock Bottom, and Contemplation of Suicide
[28:54] – [34:37]
- Brock’s addiction lasted a decade, resulting in a lost marriage, estranged relationships, and shame.
- He describes rock bottom:
“On one occasion, I honestly contemplated, had a gun to my head, was going to commit suicide...I heard my son…say, ‘Dad, you’re not a chump, you’re not going out this way.’”
— Brock Bevel [29:50] - Addiction also led to behaviors antithetical to his former self, including illicit relationships and dealing pills.
- “I became the person that I used to arrest.”
— Brock Bevel [34:14]
- “I became the person that I used to arrest.”
- Brock's self-detox was dangerous—cold turkey opioid withdrawal—described vividly:
“Worst thing I’ve ever gone through in my life…My bones were brittle...throwing up, dry heaving...that dope sickness scares them.”
— Brock Bevel [33:09]
5. Recovery & Turning Pain into Purpose
[34:45] – [37:48]
- Recovery began in isolation, but a chance encounter led Brock to open a drug and alcohol recovery center, eventually focusing on supporting law enforcement and first responders.
- He developed virtual, family-inclusive recovery programs via his website and podcast “Chase the Vase,” emphasizing that spouses are often the first to notice red flags.
- His work now centers on peer support and education to fight stigma and isolation among first responders with addiction or trauma.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“I compared it to being on Nitro Circus every night, then riding a tricycle around the next day.”
— Brock Bevel [07:30] -
“With my training, with the information that I knew, I would have done it again...my job was to protect life.”
— Brock Bevel [10:46] -
“What is it about these drugs, about this alcohol? Because I wasn’t a user. I was a clean cut kid...and then I see this effect, and it didn’t make sense to me.”
— Brock Bevel [14:02] -
“For me, I loved [opioids] because I was myself. That depression, that sadness, that longing for work went away when I took opioids...I was medicating my mental pain.”
— Brock Bevel [24:18] -
“My addiction lasted ten years. Lost my marriage, lost the family...That’s where I completely lost my path.”
— Brock Bevel [28:54] -
“You have to identify who you really are. That was hard.”
— Brock Bevel [34:27] -
Jay Wiley: “You became the person that you used to arrest.”
— [34:14] -
“Every day, that’s all I do. I meet with law enforcement officers, first responders on a daily basis and give them hope, give them opportunity to get through this.”
— Brock Bevel [36:19]
Important Timestamps for Key Segments
| Timestamp | Topic | |-------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:09–04:40 | Brock’s LE specialty units, undercover experiences | | 09:36–14:30 | Officer-involved shooting, trauma, injury during operation | | 18:42–22:51 | Injury, start of opioid prescription and addiction | | 24:18–26:43 | How emotional pain fed into addiction, manipulation of doctors | | 28:54–34:37 | Rock bottom: suicide ideation, moral collapse, self-detox | | 34:45–37:48 | Recovery journey, peer support work, "Chase the Vase" |
Recovery Resources & Contact
- Website: chasethevase.com
- Podcast: Chase the Vase Podcast
- Support Email: chasingthevase@gmail.com
“If you’re struggling with addiction, PTS, you’re not alone...reach out. There is hope.”
— Brock Bevel [36:19]
Tone & Final Thoughts
This episode is raw, honest, and deeply empathetic—conveying not just the horrors of trauma and addiction, but also the hope and possibilities of recovery. Both Brock and Jay Wiley share in the unvarnished reality of life after the badge and the courage it takes to turn pain into service for others.
Listen for:
- The real world impacts of trauma after law enforcement service
- The nature and dangers of opioid prescriptions for injured responders
- The process and support needed for lasting recovery
- The crucial role that connection, peer support, and honest conversation play in healing