Suicides of police officers: suicides perpetrated by the New York police are part of a larger trend in which police officers commit suicide

The NYPD is a police force shaken by suicide. the Death of an officer Friday is the third suspected suicide in less than two weeks. Suicide is a growing problem – not only in New York – but throughout the country.

The tragedy, said the police commissioner in a statement, is part of a "mental health crisis". He believes that the forces of order as a whole "must absolutely act".

Earlier this month, two other members of the department died by suicide: one was a respected leader, the other an experienced detective.

"The cops need to know there are ways to help, and it's not a weakness to ask for help, it's a strength," said the NYPD commissioner on June 6.

The three deaths are part of a worrying trend nationwide. In 2018, at least 167 officers died by suicide – 9% more than the number of people killed in the line of duty, according to Blue Help, a Massachusetts non-profit organization.

According to one study, cops are 30% more likely to kill themselves than the general public.

After a series of police suicides in Chicago earlier this year, CBS News and the police chaplain traveled to the most violent neighborhoods in Chicago to try to reach vulnerable agents before it was over. be too late.

"The police do not want to go home and burden their spouses with the ugliness they've had in the past eight to ten hours," said Father Dan Brandt, Chicago Police Chaplain. "These officers see more trouble during a 10-hour tour than most people see in their lives."

So far this year, 93 officers from the country have committed suicide – they were already on track to surpass 2018.