Long Island, NY – A New York City police officer has died in a suspected suicide, the fourth such death in the department this month.
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Police say the off-duty officer was found dead late Wednesday at his Hicksville, Long Island, home.
Police Commissioner James O’Neill has declared a mental health crisis in the department amid a recent spate of officer suicides.
He has sent messages reminding officers of available resources and urging them to seek help .
Deputy Chief Steven Silks was found dead in a police vehicle in Queens on June 5.
Detective Joseph Calabrese was found the next day at a Brooklyn beach.
Eight days later, 29-year-old officer Michael Caddy killed himself on Staten Island.
The entire NYPD should be on suicide watch.
Where is Big Bird De B-Lose-io. Does this have a/t to do with his policies?
There is no statistical correlation between those who have been exposed to violence, and those who take their own lives. There has never been a published definitive study to prove that hypothesis. Also, many cops go their entire career without firing their weapon, and without coming into touch with violence (i.e. desk cops, and clerical cops. There are Doctors who have not been exposed to violence, who take their own lives, as do members of other professions. I think that the NYPD does not really perform a good enough mental screening, not only when it hires new recruits, but on an ongoing basis during their career. I remember 50 years ago, when that question was asked of Police Commissioner Leary, who was PC during Lindsay’s administration. He gave a wishy washy answer, as he wasn’t even sure what mental health screenings there were, if any.