Is it better to tell my spouse about my workday or spare the details of the negative things I see? Should I protect my spouse and keep him/her from worrying about me?

Each relationship is different and law enforcement families handle this issue in many ways. The important thing is to discuss the issues openly and decide together how much is best shared. In any approach, it is important for both the officer and the spouse to have the ability to talk about how they feel and to ask for and receive support when needed.