Posted: 7/22/2005 6:05:29 AM EDT
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I know this is a very touchy subject so I hope this is taken for what its worth. We have a tendency to cover for each other for lots of things, but when it comes to this we tend to ignore the signs. Now to the subject at hand. I had to do an inservice training the other day and one of the speakers was Rev. Robert E. Douglas Jr. He is the Executive Directore of National P.O.L.I.C.E. Suicide Foundation and the author of several books that I have not read but plan on reading very soon. If you have not heard of this group they will fly out to your agencie and have a talk with you or the family members that suffered the loss of a loved one due to suicide. Watch your 6 brothers and if you are thinking about it get help. |
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You hear that it's common but I haven't got a clue how often it really happens. I've been on the job over 17 years and it hasn't happened here or locally in that time. We have guys that have been around nearly 40 years and they can't remember the last time. I've seen some guys go through some pretty stressful stuff such as felony trials where they could have faced prison time, Federal law suits, messy divorces, bouts with alcoholism, deaths of partners, deaths of children and spouses. Being fired from the job. If that stuff won't do it, I don't know what will. I doubt that the rate is significantly higher than any other similar demographic. |
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I never said it to be common just that it happens. Over the years I'm sure there where a few AD that where not but ruled so to hide it for PR reasons. Take it as you like. Just because some one didn't does not mean they are not thinking about it or thought about it. |
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I heard one of our reserve officers committed suicide after leaving our department. He had been a full time officer with three other agencies before working for us. Before he left our department, he gave me his three I.D. cards from his prior departments. He knew I collected police items back then. I still have them. I didn't hear about his death until months after his suicide. I would have attended his funeral if I knew about it. He was a good guy and very good officer. He never indicated he was having any thoughts of suicide. Colt_SBR |
Often times the signs are th eopposite of what you would expect. Someone giving away cherished property, someone who has been down suddenly relaxed and at peace, etc. It is often subtle changes that people don't see. |
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I've been with my agency going on 8 years. About 3 years before I started an officer who I served in the Reserves with commited suicide. He had a terminal brain tumor and chose to go quickly. I understand his decision. Since the time I started, I've lost 2 fellow officers to suicide. 1 on the job, the other at home. 1 had attempted it twice before and was on psych meds, receiving councelling and seemed to be doing really good. I learned after he killed himself that he was bi-polar. The second officer was on the job for all of a year max and swallowed his gun. You never see the signs sometimes. If you're trained to recognize them..you can hide them. |
