NCJ Number: 193544
Title: Police Suicide: An Executive's Perspctive (From Suicide and Law Enforcement, P 165-171, 2001, Donald C.
Sheehan and Janet I. Warren, eds. -- See NCJ-193528)
Author(s): James D. Sewell
Date Published: 2001
Page Count: 7
Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
Sale Source: US Dept of Justice
Document: PDF |PDF
Format: Document
Language: English
Country: United States of America
Annotation: After reviewing the warning signs that may be exhibited by a
police officer under extreme stress, this article discusses
strategies for preventing officer suicides.
Abstract: One of the warning signs that an officer is under extreme stress
is a sudden, radical change in personality; for example, the
gregarious officer who becomes sullen and withdrawn. Other
warning signs are increases in on-duty accidents or worker
compensation claims, citizen complaints about the officer, and
complaints by fellow officers. Expressed feelings of sexual
inadequacy, impotence, or dysfunction may also stem from stress.
Warning signs for suicidal ideation are prolonged grief or
depression, the giving away of important possessions, discussion
of plans for one's funeral, expressions of hopelessness or
helplessness, isolation from family and friends, and pronounced
alcohol or other substance abuse. An important feature of an
effective response to the risk of officer suicide is the molding
of an organizational culture that removes the stigmatization
associated with seeking help for emotional difficulties. Officers
should be encouraged to ask for help as an aspect of a
professional approach to problem-solving. Further, officers who
seek counseling and psychological services should not be
penalized in their careers. This does not mean, however, that
personnel who are serious dangers to themselves or others should
not be removed from active duty or terminated. Officers who
successfully resolve their difficulties and perform effectively
on their jobs should not be disqualified from career advancement. Training is another necessary component for suicide prevention. Training for executives should help them to develop appropriate policies and procedures for addressing risk factors; and training for line officers should help them to manage stress and recognize when they should seek help in dealing with persistent problems. Employee Assistance Programs must focus on suicide risk factors and appropriate preventive services. Further, police executives
must continually review research relevant to the recognition and
prevention of, as well as response to, officer suicide.
Main Term(s): Police suicide
Index Term(s): Police management; Police occupational stress; Police policies and procedures; Police stress training; Police subculture; Suicide causes; Suicide prevention
Note: A paper submitted to the Suicide and Law Enforcement Conference,
FBI Academy, Quantico, VA, September 1999.
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