Addressing Officer Crisis and Suicide

By Safe Call Now®'s Captain Brian Nanavaty

Public safety careers can be stressful and demanding. For over a century, police officers in the United States have protected society from those who harm others. But, who protects these officers from the effects of stress and trauma resulting from years of service? Do law enforcement agencies bear some responsibility for helping these individuals remain healthy throughout their careers?
Often, early warning signs present themselves before an officer is in distress.[2] Without proper intervention, the results could be catastrophic. For law enforcement officers, suicide sometimes is the tragic result of a crisis. Is it possible to address the warning signs before they result in the death of an officer? 

Statistics

According to a study of police suicide from 2008 through 2012, the number of officers who take their own lives is twice the number of officers killed by felons.[3] A notable drop in the number of suicides occurred from 143 in 2008 to 126 in 2012—credited in part to an increase in peer support programs, a decrease in resistance to professional assistance, and improvement in proactive annual mental health checkups. However, the number of officers taking their own lives remains high, making it uncertain whether law enforcement agencies actually have turned a healthy corner.[4]

The study presents a general demographic profile of officers who committed suicide—91 percent were male, 63 percent were single, and those between the ages of 40 and 44 with 15 to 19 years of service were most at risk.[5] This profile represents a significant percentage of those currently employed by law enforcement agencies. Some of these officers are experiencing mid-career burnout and malaise, but have too many years invested to change careers and are years away from retirement eligibility.
           
Long-term organizational commitment to officer survival is paramount. However, while recruits often are told that the job can take its toll, they frequently are not shown ways to minimize its negative effects. Helping officers keep their personal lives intact is not always a top priority for law enforcement agencies. Typically, departments do not provide strategies or prevention plans.[6]


To read the entire article published in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Click here