Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Douglas of the National Police Suicide Foundation estimates that police officers commit suicide at a rate of 300-400 a year. This compares with an average of 164 officers killed in the line of duty each year. This suggests that if law enforcement agencies spend time and money equipping and training officers to protect themselves while on duty, they should be equally if not more committed to doing what is required to prevent officer suicides. The first step is to educate all police personnel and their families about the types of behaviors and statements that show suicidal thoughts or plans. Such knowledge is necessary in order to trigger an effective intervention. A critical component of a successful intervention program is the commitment of management personnel to the development and implementation of a comprehensive program of suicide prevention. Agency personnel who observe warning signs in fellow officers, and family members of officers at risk should be encouraged to contact the officer's supervisor, who will in turn discuss the issue of suicide with the officer. A clear indication of the intent to commit suicide warrants immediately taking the officer to a hospital emergency room for a full psychological evaluation. Agencies should ensure that officers' benefits include insurance coverage for counseling and that the intervention process maintains strict confidentiality, unless there is an immediate threat of suicide, in which case emergency action should ignore any concerns about embarrassment or stigma.