Four law enforcement officers in Suffolk County died by suicide in a four-week span earlier this year, bringing renewed attention to the unique risk factors facing police and the ways in which departments are combatting it.
New York has lost 30 law enforcement officers to suicide since 2022 — more than any other state, according to the nonprofit 1st H.E.L.P., which tracks the data.
The NYPD lost 10 officers to suicide in 2019 alone. The rate has since slowed, with about four officers dying by suicide each year, according to police statistics.
Those who study suicide and its contributing factors say law enforcement agencies could save lives with more supports, like safe and secure storage of weapons and greater access to mental health care.
The late Suffolk officers worked in different departments: one worked with the Probation Department, another with the Sheriff’s Office, and two worked with the county police department. But officers said all four losses were felt universally.
“The rank-and-file were severely hurt,” said Lou Civello, president of the Suffolk County PBA, which represents county officers.
He said officers face “crazy” schedules, including working overnight, on weekends and during holidays. Personal problems like divorce can be compounded by the fact that officers regularly respond to 911 calls for domestic disputes. The job also involves regular exposure to death.
“We see the worst of humanity,” Civello said, adding that officers also feel “demonized” by segments of the public. “And if you don’t have an outlet for that, there’s going to be negative consequences.”
Suffolk County officials told Newsday that they seek to fill two vacant counseling positions within the police department.
Jeff Thompson, a psychologist, is a former NYPD detective who was the agency’s first mental health and wellness coordinator. He’s now a researcher at Columbia University’s psychiatry department and has run suicide prevention trainings for first…
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