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NYPD suicide endemic (2019)

NYPD suicide endemic (2019)

The NYPD suicide endemic refers to an occurrence of suicides of uniformed police officers within the New York City Police Department (NYPD). It was described as a "mental health crisis" by NYPD Comissioner James P. O'Neill.

The endemic received national attention after reports of a tenth police officer from the police force committed suicide on October 15, 2019.[1][3]

Statistics & Implications

NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill stated more officers have died by suicide in 2019 than in recent years.[1] He also stated there had been between 4 to 5 NYPD suicides annually for the last 5 years.[1]

Out of the 10 suicides committed by police officers, 8 of them happened between June and October 2019.[3] Commissioner O'Neil called for a news conference in June 2019 after the NYPD surpassed its average.[3]

According to a NYC Department of Investigation document released in September 2019 entitled "An Investigations of NYPD's Officer Wellness & Safety Services," the rate of suicides among NYPD police officers is significantly higher than for other residents of New York City. According to 2017 data from the report, the rate of suicides for uniformed NYPD personnel was 13.8 per 100,000 people, while the city’s population overall was at 6.7 per 100,000 (according to 2016 data).[8]

Officers and pundits state that potential reasons for this include on-the-job psychological trauma and stress, as well as social stigmas related to mental illness.[1]

References

[1]
Citation Linktime.com"New York City Police Officer Dies By Suicide — the 10th NYPD Suicide in 2019" (via TIME, published by Tara Law)
Oct 16, 2019, 4:47 PM
[2]
Citation Linkabc7ny.com"10th NYPD officer dies by suicide in 2019" (via ABC7)
Oct 16, 2019, 4:48 PM
[3]
Citation Linkwww.cnn.com"The number of NYPD officer suicides this year rises to 10 " (via CNN, published on October 16, 2019)
Oct 16, 2019, 4:49 PM
[4]
Citation Linkwww.cbsnews.com"Sergeant is apparently 10th NYPD officer to die by suicide this year" (via CBS News)
Oct 16, 2019, 4:49 PM
[5]
Citation Linkwww.nbcnewyork.com"Off-Duty NYPD Officer Dies After Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound in Queens; Tenth Officer to Die From Suicide in 2019" (via NBC New York)
Oct 16, 2019, 4:49 PM
[6]
Citation Linkwww.usatoday.com"Police officer kills himself, the 9th NYPD death by suicide this year" (via USA Today)
Oct 16, 2019, 4:50 PM
[7]
Citation Linkwww.foxnews.com"NYPD sergeant kills himself, marking 10th officer to die by suicide this year in the city" (via FOX News)
Oct 16, 2019, 4:53 PM
[8]
Citation Linkwww1.nyc.gov"An Investigations of NYPD's Officer Wellness & Safety Services" (published in September 2019)
Oct 16, 2019, 5:12 PM