Understanding Officer Suicide in the Line of Duty

December 26, 2024

In law enforcement, we often discuss the risks officers face from external threats, but a more pervasive danger lurks within our ranks: officer suicide. A recent on-duty suicide by an NYPD Sergeant in Queens, New York, just days before Christmas, inspired me to write this article and continue to highlight this disturbing trend.

The choice of some officers to take their lives while on duty presents a particularly complex phenomenon that demands our attention and understanding.

The Significance of On-Duty vs. Off-Duty Suicide 

When an officer chooses to end their life while on duty, it often carries additional symbolic weight. Research from the National Police Suicide Foundation suggests that on-duty suicides frequently represent a final act of connection to the profession that defined the officer's identity. The choice of location and timing can be seen as a profound statement about their relationship with their work and colleagues.

The impact of on-duty suicides extends beyond the immediate tragedy, creating ripple effects throughout the department and community. Fellow officers who may discover their colleague and support staff called upon to process the scene will likely have those images etched into their memories forever. Dispatchers who receive a final radio transmission or have no response from an officer often feel a sense of professional failure. Members of the public can begin to feel their trust in law enforcement diminish. And the department’s overall morale and psychological well-being are strained.

The Holiday Season: A Critical Period for Officer Mental Health 

The period between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day presents unique challenges for law enforcement officers. Research from the Journal of Law Enforcement Behavioral Health shows a significant spike in officer mental wellness concerns during this time. Several factors contribute to this increase:

Professional Stressors 

• Increased service calls related to domestic disputes and mental health crises

• Higher frequency of alcohol-related incidents

• Mandatory overtime and holiday shifts keeping officers from their families

• Responding to tragic incidents that contrast sharply with the "holiday spirit"

  
  

Personal Challenges 

• Missing important family moments due to shift work

• Difficulty maintaining holiday traditions due to rotating schedules

• Financial stress from holiday expectations

• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) compounding existing mental health challenges

Heightened Emotional Impact 

• Responding to calls involving children during what should be a joyful time

• Witnessing families in crisis during traditionally family-oriented celebrations

• Dealing with the contrast between public festivities and professional exposure to tragedy

• Processing personal loss or family struggles while maintaining professional composure

Common Indicators Often Recognized in Retrospect 

Looking back, colleagues and supervisors often identify warning signs that, at the time, may not have seemed significant enough to prompt intervention. Based on studies from the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), here are five crucial indicators to watch for:

1. Uncharacteristic Isolation: Withdrawal from usual social interactions, especially during shift briefings or team meals. This includes physical and emotional distancing from long-term partners or colleagues.

2. Drastic Performance Changes: Either sudden perfectionism and rigid adherence to rules or a noticeable decline in work quality or officer safety. Both extremes can signal internal struggles.

3. Changed Relationship with Firearms: Unusual focus on or handling of service weapons, including unnecessary cleaning or handling during quiet moments.

4. Administrative Behavior Shifts: Unexpected updates to wills, life insurance, or departmental paperwork. Sometimes accompanied by giving away personal items.

5. Loss of Emotional Regulation: Unusual emotional responses to routine calls, either through over-involvement or complete detachment.

   
   

Five Simple Yet Effective Intervention Steps 

When you notice these warning signs in a colleague, consider these evidence-based approaches:

1. Direct Engagement: Simply asking, "I've noticed you seem different lately - would you like to grab coffee and talk?" can open crucial dialogue. Research shows direct questions about well-being don't increase suicide risk.

2. Share Resources Casually: Rather than formally referring them to services, share information about departmental resources in conversation, noting how these have helped others or yourself.

3. Include in Non-Work Activities: Invite them to off-duty social events or exercise sessions, maintaining connection without pressure.

4. Partner Check-Ins: If you're a supervisor, strategically pair them with emotionally intelligent partners who can provide natural support during shifts.

5. Document Concerns: While maintaining confidentiality, note patterns of behavior that concern you. This can help identify escalating situations and ensure continuity of support. Sometimes, it is easier to see a pattern when it is documented and not based on memory alone.

   
   

Special Considerations for Holiday Support 

During the holiday season, departments can implement additional support measures:

1. Holiday Buddy System: Pair officers who work holidays with those who have the day off for check-ins and support

2. Family Integration Programs: Create opportunities for officers' families to connect and support each other during holiday shifts.

3. Post-Shift Decompression: Provide quiet spaces and time for officers to process difficult holiday calls before returning home

4. Flexible Scheduling Where Possible: Allow officers to attend at least some important family events. This could include rotating assignments during a holiday shift to allow officers to attend family dinners on shift.

5. Holiday-Specific Mental Health Resources: Ensure access to counselors familiar with law enforcement holiday stressors

The Broader Impact 

Officer suicide affects more than just the immediate family and department. Secondary victims often include:

• Partners and close colleagues who may experience survivor's guilt

• Civilian staff who worked closely with the officer

• Community members who had regular positive interactions with the officer

• Future officers who may inherit the emotional legacy of the loss

Moving Forward 

Understanding and preventing officer suicide requires a cultural shift in law enforcement. As first responders, we have a direct influence on the mindset of our colleagues. Regardless of one’s rank, seniority, or assigned authority, we must move beyond seeing emotional struggles as weaknesses and toward recognizing mental wellness skills as essential as physical fitness.

It is not enough to wait for your command staff to take action. Suicide prevention and improved mental wellness in public safety are shared responsibilities at all levels of your department.

If you or someone you know needs support:

• Copline (Law Enforcement Only): 1-800-267-5463

• Safe Call Now: 1-206-459-3020

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988