When an off-duty New York City police officer shot and killed himself in his home last month, it was the department’s fifth suicide since June and the seventh this year, part of what law enforcement advocates are calling an increasingly disturbing problem nationwide, ABC News reports. Blue H.E.L.P. a nonprofit organization that tracks law enforcement suicides, says that 114 officers nationwide have taken their lives in 2019, as of Aug. 1. Reported suicides are up 24 percent this year over last.
The organization maintains the only national database that collects law enforcement suicide data, verifying cases with family members. “I think that the courage all of these families are showing coming forward is going to have a tremendous impact on stigma reduction and awareness,” said Blue H.E.L.P. founder Karen Solomon. “When it’s hidden, we don’t know the scope of the problem and it’s not being taken seriously.” Police departments see law enforcement suicides as an ever-present challenge, including breaking through the stigma surrounding the problem. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund says 60 officers nationwide have died in the line of duty so far in 2019. “The numbers show twice as many police officers have taken their lives as [have been killed] in the line of duty, which makes this the number one issue for police departments around the country,” said Chuck Wexler of the Police Executive Research Forum.