New York Police Department (NYPD) officers on the job. Two officers stand alert near the statue of Christopher Columbus at the Columbus Circle in New York on October 9, 2017, while a small group of people protest calling for the removal of the statue. JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states: “Each year more than 41,000 individuals die by suicide, leaving behind thousands of friends and family members to navigate the tragedy of their loss. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among adults in the United States and the 2nd leading cause of death among young people aged 10-24; these rates are rising.
“Suicidal thoughts or behaviors are both damaging and dangerous and are therefore considered a psychiatric emergency. Someone experiencing these thoughts should seek immediate assistance from a health or mental health care provider. Having suicidal thoughts does not mean someone is weak or flawed.”
Police Suicides: Dangers Behind the Badge
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) cites in their document titled “Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide that each year more law enforcement officers die by suicide than are killed in the line of duty.
Vincent J. Bove
Author
Vincent J. Bove, CPP, is a national speaker and author on issues critical to America. Bove is a recipient of the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award for combating crime and violence and is a former confidant of the New York Yankees. His newest book is “Listen to Their Cries.” For more information, see www.vincentbove.com
