Yvette Gonzales works as a police officer in Dallas. At home, she is the mother of a 5-year-old son and engaged. Graduating from the academy was “one of the happiest moments” of her life. As she describes, “The eight months of training really wasn’t easy. But wearing that uniform, I felt this great sense of accomplishment. I just felt big in that moment, like I could conquer the world.”

A few months later, however, she was to confront an experience that caused her to question everything. Here in her own words she explains what happened: