Out of Darkness Walks for Suicide Prevention
issues that many officers struggle with on the job and are now
there to take the call when others hit rock bottom.
“We’ve basically been through the gamut of emotions when
it comes to police work, from the highest highs to the lowest
lows,” noted Rodriguez, who was an Elizabeth Local 4 member
for 27 years before becoming a source of support for other offi-
cers through Cop2Cop less than a year ago.
In 2017, Cop2Cop averted 15 officers in crisis to safety, but the
mental health support team also received requests for suicide
debriefing services for 17 officers reported to have died by sui-
cide. So far this year, Cop2Cop has already provided debriefings
for 15 suicides and has averted 13 officers in crisis.
Zavaglia knows what it’s like to be on both sides of the call
for help. Luckily for many officers, ever since Zavaglia recovered
from the struggles he faced while on the job with the Hamilton
Township Police Department, he has helped multiple law en-
forcement officers see the light and step away from the ledge.
It’s clear by the statistics and patches on the Cop2Cop banner,
though, that not enough officers call for help.
“Unfortunately, depression and suicide are part of police
work throughout the United States,” Zavaglia shared. “We’re
here to honor all of the police officers that have committed sui-
cide. Instead of looking down on them, we’re honoring them for
what they did while they were working.”
In addition to remembering all officers who became victims
of suicide, the Cop2Cop leaders were also there to honor Re-
nee Lyons, who has become a prominent advocate for suicide
prevention ever since her husband, former Middlesex County
Corrections Officer Larry Lyons, took his own life in 2014. Za-
vaglia and Rodriguez presented Lyons with multiple “Cop2Cop
Each patch on the Cop2Cop banner represents a law enforcement agency
or department in New Jersey that has had a victim of suicide.
Certificates of Appreciation” for her tireless dedication to walks
to fight suicide.
“Renee has been very active with serving police officers –
especially Cop2Cop – by donating to the Out of Darkness Walk
and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention,” Rodri-
guez explained. “Cop2Cop felt it would be time to honor her ef-
forts in walking with us each year.”
Following the Out of Darkness opening ceremony, hundreds
gathered to take steps to prevent suicide, advocate for aware-
ness and remember those who were gone too soon. The Cop-
2Cop banner led the way on the 3-mile walk in honor of the
tragedies that each patch represents and the quest to avoid any
more law enforcement agencies from being added to the me-
morial display.
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