3rd Chicago police officer dies by suicide this month; department prioritizing staff mental health

CPD Supt. David Brown held a press convention Monday following a 3rd CPD officer who died by suicide this month.

Brown made clear that policing has by no means been more durable.

“That is such a troublesome scenario for the Chicago Police Division,” Brown stated.

Brown’s assertion comes as three Chicago officers have taken their lives this month. The newest died Sunday.

Brown stated he is working to deal with the stigma inside the division relating to searching for assist for psychological well being crises.

“The stigma of even speaking to somebody in our occupation is a problem,” Brown stated. “Many officers discover it as an indication of weak spot.”

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The newest demise got here simply in the future after one other CPD officer was discovered lifeless in his house by suicide and weeks after one other took her personal life.

“We ask that town wrap its arms round this sergeant’s family members as they mourn his loss. Please additionally take a second to hope for the women and men of CPD, who’re grieving alongside this sergeant’s household,” the division stated in an announcement.

The third officer’s identification has not but been launched.

“It’s extremely heartbreaking to know that an officer was beneath a lot stress, so depressed, they felt that they are solely method out is to take their life,” stated Jamay Nellum-Fane, a former CPD officer.

Having served 16 years with the Chicago Police Division, simply retiring in April, Nellum-Fane stated the emotional stress of being a police officer has develop into excessive.

“The times off being canceled, after which we’ve got to be actual — the stress that our officers are beneath responding to calls — individual with a gun, individual shot, home battery, little one abuse, sexual assault,” she stated.

She stated the stress, partly, led to her retirement.

“I went by way of that darkish interval, going through melancholy, going through PTSD, going through post-traumatic stress. It was simply an excessive amount of. It was over-bearing,” Nellum-Fane stated.

“We are able to all the time do a greater job of looking for our brothers and sisters in attempting to concentrate to attainable disaster moments that we will intervene,” Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara stated in an announcement.

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Each the FOP president and Nellum-Fane agree extra might be completed.

“I feel that they need to be extra inventive and really assign perhaps counselors, social staff, regardless of the case is, to precise districts,” Nellum-Fane stated.

In response to a tweet by the Chicago Police Division Sunday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot replied:

“Please know that we hear you & are working tirelessly to ease the psychological & bodily burden of our cops.”

For those who really feel suicidal otherwise you’re fearful about somebody you realize, you may name the Nationwide Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. You can even textual content the Disaster Textual content Line by messaging TALK to 741741.

For extra info, go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.