Police Department Mourns as Third Police Officer Succumbs to Suicide
Warning: the following content contains the sensitive topic of suicide. If you feel suicidal or know someone who has talked about suicide, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text the Crisis Text Line by messaging TALK to 741741.
The Chicago Police Department is mourning the recent suicide of another officer, marking the department’s third suicide in weeks.
Statements from the Department and Fraternal Order of Police
The department shared their grief with a statement, “The Chicago Police Department is mourning the loss of the off-duty sergeant who succumbed to his injuries today.”
The officer was in serious condition on Saturday after his attempt.
The Fraternal Order of Police also tweeted: “We’re devastated. Two of our members recently died by suicide and we just got word that a third member died by suicide earlier today.”
Attached to the tweet was a quote from former department member and FOP President John Catanzara.
“We can always do a better job of looking out for our brothers and sisters in trying to pay attention to possible crisis moments that we can intervene,” the quote read. “This isn’t a fool proof system, we’re never going to stop it 100%, but we certainly can try. And we owe it to our brothers and sisters wearing the badge to do just that.”
Statistics
The CPD has reported more than a dozen suicides since 2018, while a 2017 Justice Department report stated that the CPD’s suicide rate was 60% higher than the national average.
The most recent report comes the day after another policeman was found dead in his home weeks after another killed herself.
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Previous reports
Fifth District Officer Durand Lee was found dead at his residence on Friday, according to Chicago police spokesman Tom Ahern.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that his death was a suicide. The coroner identified Lee on Friday afternoon.
On the morning of July 2, the Cook County coroner’s office reported that 29-year-old Patricia Swank had committed suicide.
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Additional statements
The third officer’s identity has not yet been released, but the department shares his emotional feelings by contacting the city, saying:
“We ask that the city wrap its arms around this sergeant’s loved ones as they mourn his loss. Please take a moment to pray for the men and women of CPD, who are grieving alongside this sergeant’s family.”
Former police officer Jamay Nellum-Fane also intervened, saying: “It’s very heartbreaking to know that an officer was under so much stress, so depressed, they felt that they’re only way out is to take their life.”
Nellum-Fane served the department for more than 16 years and retired in early April. He added that the emotional stress of being a police officer has become more urgent.
“The days off being canceled, and then we have to be real – the stress that our officers are under responding to calls – person with a gun, person shot, domestic battery, child abuse, sexual assault,” she said, explaining that stress led her to retire.
“I went through that dark period, facing depression, facing PTSD, facing post-traumatic stress,” explained Nellum-Fane. “It was just too much. It was over-bearing.”
Jamay Nellum-Fane echoed the sentiments of the FOP, saying, “I think they have to be more creative and actually assign maybe counselors, social workers, whatever the case is, to actual districts.”
The Chicago Police Department tweeted, saying:
“We are in the midst of the most difficult and challenging time to be a Police Officer in this country. Officer well-being and overall mental health is our top priority.”
“Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP and Professional Counseling Division provides free and confidential programs to all active and retired department members and their families,” they added.
“We stand with our officers.”
Warning: the following content contains the sensitive topic of suicide. If you feel suicidal or know someone who has talked about suicide, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text the Crisis Text Line by messaging TALK to 741741.
References:
3rd Chicago police officer dies by suicide this month, department announces
Chicago police officer found dead in home ruled suicide
Chicago police officer killed in suicide ID’d by medical examiner