Police Suicides in the New York City Police Department: Causal Factors and Remedial Measures (From Suicide and Law Enforcement, P 139-149, 2001, Donald C. Sheehan and Janet I. Warren, eds. -- See NCJ-193528)

• NCJ Number: 193541
• Author(s): Michael O'Neill
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 11 pages
• Sale Source: US Dept of Justice
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: A paper submitted to the Suicide and Law Enforcement Conference, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA, September 1999.

Annotation

This article identifies causal factors in suicides by New York City police officers and describes the remedial measures undertaken by the New York Police Department (NYPD).

Abstract

Since 1985, 89 NYPD employees have committed suicide. Most of these suicides were spurred by a combination of a failed relationship, alcohol consumption, and the accessibility of firearms. The NYPD has created several units that are designed to help employees cope with psychological problems and other issues that may pose a risk of suicide. The Employee Relations Section helps employees cope with medical and personal hardships. The Counseling Services Unit helps personnel determine whether they are experiencing problems that involve abuse of alcohol or prescription drugs, compulsive gambling, or financial problems; it refers employees to appropriate services. The Chaplains Unit provides religious counseling and resources for the four major faiths. The Early Intervention Unit provides assistance to employees who are experiencing personal and job-related problems. The Psychological Services Section provides initial assessments and makes referrals to outpatient facilities for additional follow-up as deemed appropriate. The Police Self-Support Group is an independent fraternal organization that provides peer support for officers. Other resources for NYPD personnel are a crisis telephone hotline, a Membership Assistance Program, a line organizational referral program, a Domestic Incident Education Program, a catastrophic injury/illness outreach program, education strategies that target employee families, in-service training and education initiatives, and the removal and safeguarding of firearms. The NYPD collaborates with collective bargaining units and non-departmental organizations that have specialized knowledge regarding suicide, so as to continue to improve resources that can help prevent employee suicides. Attachments provide data on the 89 NYPD suicides since 1985, demographic data on all uniformed NYPD personnel, and suicide statistics for the general population.