This book takes an in-depth look at the phenomenon of police officer suicide. Centered on statistical information collected from cases of officer suicide from 2017 to 2019, this volume helps readers understand the circumstances surrounding death by suicide amongst law enforcement personnel and makes recommendations for identification and prevention. Through interview and case presentations, this volume examines the lives and last days and weeks of several officers, using findings from social media, departmental surveys, medical examiner reports, toxicology reports and interviews with loved ones and colleagues to create a psychological autopsy. With 14 chapters contributed by former law enforcement, researchers, and mental health professionals, it addresses national, state, and local policy implications and strategies, presenting a theory for better understanding and preventing the phenomenon of officer suicide. This volume will be of interest to researchers in policing, to law enforcement and first responder leadership and administrative professionals, and to mental health practitioners and clinicians working with this unique population

Law enforcement is a dangerous profession, but the truth remains more officers kill themselves than are killed in the line-of-duty. A failure to acknowledge this silent killer causes valuable governmental funding to be lost in the form of training and education, and numerous officers to take their own lives before help is available. Study results hope to produce a mindset in which shame and anger no longer produce a shield for this deadly topic, but rather, a platform to begin feeling comfortable talking about the issues officers face, without seeing suicide as a viable option.