With 21 years of policing experience, and still actively serving as a senior NCOi/c, Sgt. Peyton has endured a significant number of traumatic events: suicides, fatal motor vehicle collisions, structure fires, homicides, sudden deaths, child abuse, aggravated domestic violence, sudden infant death syndrome, child and adult sexual assaults, mass casualty shootings and the murders of fellow police officers.

In 2020, he was diagnosed with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, though he had been struggling with operational stress injuries for several years. Fearful of repercussions from his employer, inclusive of termination, stigmas from peers and superiors, and being labelled as weak, Sgt. Peyton, like most first responders and military veterans, was reluctant to speak about it.

In 2023, with support from his psychologist, Sgt. Peyton stepped out of the shadows to publicly disclose his C-PTSD in hopes of helping others who are struggling in silence.