Police Suicide: An International Crisis
By Dr. Mark 
Bond
Police suicides are occurring at alarming rates. This crisis is an international problem within the law enforcement community.
In July of 2014, Brian Nordli reported that Bob Douglas, founder of the National Police Suicide Foundation stated that two officers commit suicide for each officer who is killed in the line of duty by a criminal.
The statistical reporting on police suicides make the problem difficult to study because not all departments report law enforcement suicides.
The Reality of Police Suicide
Comparing police suicide suicides for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012 and comparing them to police officer line of duty deaths for the same period the magnitude of the crisis becomes clear. Police suicide is the number one cause of death of among law enforcement officers.
| Statistics from The Badge of Life | Statistics from Officer Down Memorial Page |
| 2008 Police Suicides: 141 | 2008 Police Line of Duty Deaths: 161 |
| 2009 Police Suicides: 143 | 2009 Police Line of Duty Deaths: 140 |
| 2010 Police Suicides: 145 | 2010 Police Line of Duty Deaths: 177 |
| 2011 Police Suicides: 147 | 2011 Police Line of Duty Deaths: 180 |
| 2012 Police Suicides: 126 | 2012 Police Line of Duty Deaths: 133 |
The Mission to Save Lives
Police suicide prevention programs have the real possibility to help reduce the incidents of police suicides. The emotional scars of policing are real. Even when an officer retires, the emotional scars from their faithful service are present. Suicide for retired law enforcement officers is a problem and we must take care of active and retired law enforcement officers and provide them access to mental health care professionals.
Family uses former Rockford cop’s suicide to spread awareness
Police Suicide Stories 2015
These stories are only but a glimpse of the reality and size of police suicide crisis. The law enforcement community has a crisis on our hands. It is going to take courage and strong leadership to make a difference.
A difference that can save a life!
NYPD sergeant commits suicide at home
Family Blames Baltimore for Officer’s Suicide
Bay Ridge police officer dies in apparent suicide
Former officer’s suicide note: Girls ‘taken away’
Phillipsburg officer’s apparent suicide shocks town, police
Detroit police officer dead in apparent suicide
Milford officer’s death ruled a suicide
IMPD cop shoots, kills self at home
HPD: Officer found dead inside car at park in apparent suicide
San Antonio officer found dead in apparent suicide at police headquarters garage
ME confirms retired Miami-Dade Police director committed suicide
POLICE OFFICER’S SUICIDE AFTER SHOOTING MOTHER OF THREE
Detroit cop in probe shot himself outside parents’ home
Breaking news: Parsippany Police Officer Commits Suicide
South Carolina cop barricades himself in home, commits suicide during armed standoff
Fired Portland police officer death ruled suicide
Waterbury Deputy Chief’s Death Called Suicide
West Palm Beach Police Officer Found Dead . . . Suicide Suspected!
Former Milwaukee police officer dies after apparent suicide after standoff
Chief: Suicide Note Indicated Killings Of Retired White Plains Cop, Teen Daughters ‘Premeditated’
Police officer dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Retired Cliffside Park cop, 82, commits suicide after killing son, authorities say
Murder-suicide took place at cop’s birthday celebration
Police Commissioner Involved in Charlie Hebdo Investigation “Commits Suicide”. Total News Blackout
Israeli Cop Who Feuded With Rabbi Pinto Commits Suicide
Officer kills wife, daughter in murder-suicide in Ankara
Mystery Deepens in Senior Police Officer’s Suicide
Jamaican police officer murders colleague, commits suicide
Bihar: Police station officer in-charge shoots himself dead
IAS officer found dead in Bengaluru
Retired Phuket police officer commits suicide
Emsworth police officer’s suicide prompts concern over care
Dr. Mark Bond
About the Author: Dr. Mark Bond has worked in law enforcement and has been a firearms instructor for more than 33 years. His law enforcement experience includes the military, local, state and federal levels as a police officer and criminal investigator. Mark obtained a BS and MS in criminal justice and M.Ed in educational leadership with Summa Cum Laude honors. As a lifelong learner, he also has a doctoral degree in education (EdD) with a concentration in college teaching and learning. Mark is currently an assistant professor of criminal justice at a university and adjunct professor of administration of justice studies at a community college. First Published – In E-Roll Call Magazine
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