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The suicide of a police officer is a tragedy on multiple levels: the senseless loss of the officer’s life to his or her family, community, department, and the law enforcement profession. Recent estimates on national law enforcement suicides were reported to be 141 in 2008 and 126 in 2012.¹ Although these numbers do not indicate higher rates than a matched demographic group in the general population, leaders can support a continuum of prevention strategies that reduces the stigma associated with asking for help and culturally deters police suicides. The fact that suicidal urges could overcome one of our “heroes behind the badge” can be shocking and unthinkable, and, for so long, it was the secret law enforcement dared not discuss.

Many in the law enforcement profession have begun to discuss this “secret” in hopes of reducing future police suicides. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has initiated efforts to break this silence, as evidenced by past conference presentations, magazine articles, and the recent National Symposium on Law Enforcement Officer Suicide and Mental Health (“Breaking the Silence”).² The wider law enforcement community is also embracing the concepts of wellness and resiliency with innovative programs aimed at promoting the overall health and well-being of law enforcement officers. Familiar concepts such as training, coaching, and mentoring apply not only to the success of becoming officers, but also to the resiliency officers develop throughout their careers by successfully adapting and thriving in the profession despite the many adversities encountered.

The Stress-Distress-Impairment Problem
As previously mentioned, one of the greatest critical incidents faced by police officers is the suicide of a fellow officer. When officers respond to tragedies that occur to community members at large, they rely on adaptive coping mechanisms (e.g., compartmentalizing, distancing, remaining stoic, engaging in physical activity) to help remain resilient. However, when one of their partners commits suicide, it is often experienced as a personal assault; it is not uncommon for officers to describe feeling personally violated and betrayed by one of their own whom they trusted. Reeling from this personal tragedy can often hinder the effectiveness of an officer’s usual way of dealing with human violence. To complicate matters, personal life stresses compounded with the loss can overwhelm even the strongest of officers. For example, the death of a partner could trigger prior loss experiences and tax family relationships that are sometimes barely remaining afloat. An officer feeling out of control will rely on what has worked under normal circumstances, such as compartmentalizing and distancing. If the officer’s normal coping style is ineffective, a repetitive strategy of ever-increasing intensity of established coping methods is a typical response. Not surprisingly, coping that is adaptive under normal circumstances can become maladaptive and ineffective in crisis situations. Being stuck in an unsuccessful problem-solving loop can compromise the officer’s mental well-being, work, and relationships, while extending the period of pain.

Police officers are able to show greater strength than most others in dangerous situations. They are an elite group who are courageous enough to run towards danger to protect others. Yet despite their bravery, their mind and body absorb the hits from encountering a steady diet of critical incidents and other insidious stress events. Many officers will be heavily affected by the years of law enforcement stressors. Eventually, these officers will contend with personal emotional or physical fires. Although police officers will always remain an elite group, they are not invincible. Even model cops need career-long, proactive maintenance work to maintain psychological health.


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