Behind the Badge: The Secret of Suicide
 

  Many supporters, friends and members of the law enforcement profession are aware of the dangers that law enforcement officers face each day.  Whether it be from the heinous acts committed by criminals or accidental deaths resulting from other actions, the life of a law enforcement officer is filled with stress and danger.  Often times when we talk about the deaths of law enforcement officers, the stories are told from the position of ‘line of duty’ deaths, but there is a hidden secret that lives behind the badge.  This secret is often a topic not easily pronounced in the profession and is largely unreported in the mainstream media. 

         During 2008, there were more than 100 reported cases of law enforcement officer suicides.  According to many experts, suicide among law enforcement officers is a category that is often grossly under reported.   Dr. Elizabeth Dansie, a psychologist who works with Los Angeles agencies in the aftermath of suicides, states that many suicides are reported as simply accidental deaths and the ‘shame factor’ is largely responsible for the hesitancy in seeking help.  In 2007, the National Police Suicide Foundation documented an average of 450 suicides during the previous three years.  The reasons for the under reporting are various and mostly understandable.  A suicide can breed contention, embarrassment and diminish the morale of a department leaving many people questioning what went wrong.  Because the profession itself is one of pride and honor, it can be difficult for officers to admit areas of weakness; therefore, even if an officer is having emotional or mental struggles, getting counseling can be difficult.  Only about 2% of the 18,000 law enforcement agencies around the country actually have suicide prevention programs designed to address this issue.

            Research shows that an officer is more likely to kill himself/herself than to die at the hands of someone else.  Police epidemiology studies have shown that police suicide is more than three times that of the general public and the suicide rate has risen over the past ten years.   In an article published in USA Today, it was noted that larger police municipalities like Los Angeles, Chicago and New York have begun to take notice of suicide rates and began to include comprehensive prevention programs as part of their agencies.  The California Highway Patrol cited eight suicides in eight months during one stretch which prompted a drastic change and need to address the growing concerns of officers.   The agencies previously mentioned all feature videos, brochures and posters, peer-support training, coaching on warning signs, and even psychological outreach.

            In 2001, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department began its program, and since 2002, there have been only two reported suicides out of more than 9000 officers.  According to Audrey Honig, chief psychologist for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, “Research has always shown that availability of firearms, comfort with firearms, increases suicide rates.”  Even in the upper levels of the profession as far reaching as the FBI and other government agencies, suicide is still a major factor.  Although the FBI does have a stress program, it does not have any mandatory suicide prevention training programs on the subject.  Since 1993, more than 20 FBI agents have committed suicide.

The Indicators

The Central Florida Police Stress Unit has identified several contributing factors and characteristics associated with law enforcement suicides.

·        Age, race and sex – Male officers 50 years and older are at highest risk, while females of any age are at lowest risk. Caucasian males have the highest suicide rate of all demographic groups.

·        Psychiatric symptoms – Persons with clinical depression are at the highest risk for suicide. Depression is likely the most common warning sign of suicide, followed by those exhibiting symptoms of schizophrenia such as disorganization, confusion, chaos and hallucinations.

·        Stress – Recent stress including daily hassles, life events and traumatic events. Examples are a recent job loss, divorce/relationship issues, or illness. The experience of a traumatic incident may also precipitate suicide such as 9/11, the Oklahoma federal building bombing or natural disasters.

·        Prior suicidal thoughts/ attempts – A person’s potential for suicide is higher if they have had previous suicide attempts, have been considering suicide as an option, if they have specific plans and means readily available and if a truly lethal means is contemplated (e.g., a police officer who always has a gun readily available). Each attempt increases the likelihood of success.

·        Available resources – A person who is isolated or has no means of social support has a greater risk for suicide, as is someone whose friends and family are openly hostile and rejecting.   - John Violanti, Ph.D.

            USA Today reports that the International Association of Chiefs of Police has been lobbying to make suicide prevention tools available for all the nation’s 18,000 law enforcement agencies. In their proposal, the IACP stated that the current police culture tended to be entirely in avoidance of issues surrounding suicide.  The proposal went on to say that officers are left with no place to turn.                            
            With an on-the-job stress level that is enormously high, comfort and accessibility to firearm, minimal prevention and outreach programs, and in many jobs such as undercover work, the demands of secrecy can be so rigorous that it affects both the officer and their family members.  Even though in the ‘line of duty’ deaths are segmented by incidents which occur while serving in an official capacity of law enforcement, there is a strong argument that can be made that suicides and job related stress have a direct correlation.  For that reason, law enforcement suicides should be given a high priority, and law enforcement agencies should be encouraged to make prevention and outreach programs available to their sworn officers.