Wolves, Shepherd and Shield

Wolves, Shepherd and Shield

Wolves, Shepherd, and Shield is the true and deeply personal story of Gary Chwastiak—a decorated police officer, ordained Orthodox deacon, survivor of childhood sexual abuse, and a man who spent decades carrying the weight of trauma in silence. From the quiet candles of the altar to the flashing lights of patrol cars, Gary’s life unfolds as a battle between faith, duty, and the hidden wounds he was trained to bury. As a young boy, he was groomed and abused by a priest who should have protected him. As a cop, he faced suicides, violent scenes, broken families, and moments that pushed the limits of human endurance. And as a man of faith, he wrestled with God through grief, PTSD, and the unspoken suffering that threatened to tear his life apart from the inside. But his story is not one of defeat—it is one of awakening. With honesty and courage, Gary reveals how trauma embeds itself in the body, how silence can destroy the soul, and how truth—spoken aloud for the first time—can begin the work of healing. Through the support of therapy, faith, family, and perseverance, he discovers that survival is not enough. Real healing requires confrontation, compassion, and the strength to speak. Wolves, Shepherd, and Shield is more than a memoir—it is a warning, a guide, and a beacon of hope for anyone who has been wounded by institutions, silenced by fear, or burdened by the past. It exposes the darkness that hides behind trusted walls while honoring the true shepherds who protect the innocent. Raw, intimate, and spiritually grounded, this book is a testament to resilience, the fight for justice, and the mercy that emerges when a man chooses truth over silence.