Angie Wilhelmi, known warmly by those she came across in her community as “Officer Angie,” joined the force in 1990. For those who knew her as a beloved wife and friend, the impact of her life continues to spread its wings and unite us. The story of Angie Wilhelmi’s vitality and her 25 years as a police officer lives in memory and dedication to our influence and work within Angie’s Place. We hope to honor Angie’s story, shared with us by her loving husband, Tom Wilhelmi, to connect others to a place where they feel safe to acknowledge and heal from the dysfunctions magnified in the profession of serving others.

“Angie was excellent at wearing the mask. Everything was perfect. She loved her family. But she could function quite well in her dysfunction on most days. I noticed immediately after we got married the nightmares every night. She would wake up and become very good at putting herself back to sleep, but she thought waking up with nightmares every night was normal; everybody does it. During stressful seasons, she would get migraines from internalizing the stress, lay in the bedroom with cold compresses on her head, and sit in complete darkness. It took six years, half a dozen doctors, CT scans, MRIs, allergy scratch tests, and x-rays for her finally to admit that the migraines were stress related. It was no different for her struggles with doubt and depression. Finally, after hearing me mentor several people with PTSD and Depression and three sleepless nights, she realized on her own that she needed help. When she would ask me if I thought she was ill, my response was always the same - Know this, my love, you are my best friend, and once you step into this, I will hold the puke bucket for you and go all the way I need to love you and get you through this. I will be by your side the whole way. Tom writes, “praise God, one of my best friends is a therapist with PTSD himself and was able to help us walk through this process.”

Every person holds their own story, their own experiences in life. But it is in sharing these stories of honor, legacy, and support that often continue with significant impact to bring us together in some of the most prominent yet subtle ways.