Continued from previous page Blue H . E . L . P . found that almost 40 % of retired officers who killed themselves had been retired for less than 1 year . The first year of retirement may be similarly hazardous for former police chiefs . Risk may especially accrue among those retiring amid controversy or being forced out .
Politics is another stressor that may have suicide risk implications for police chiefs . A survey of police chiefs identified the “ most discouraging , dissatisfying aspect of their job as being frustrated by working in the political environment and dealing with politicians .” Mayors and municipal managers may see the police chief as their “ servant .”
Resources for Hopeful Leader Outcomes In the FBI Bulletin article by Salvatore New Jersey ’ s Cop2Cop program is referenced as a model for solutions to the LEO suicide problem . He suggests the following :
1 . Raise Awareness Police chief suicide must become part of the ongoing conversation . Programs and strategies for prevention must include all levels of law enforcement , from cadets to chiefs . Prevention starts with raising awareness of the problem , especially because it is not widely recognized . Law enforcement leaders hear much about the suicide risk borne by their personnel but little about their own .
Leadership programs for aspiring chiefs , executive training for current chiefs , and orientations for new chiefs often touch on police officer suicide . Participants should also be introduced to the reality of it in their ranks , learn about the risk factors and warning signs , and recognize what they should do about it .
When the “ buck ” stops with you and you are lonely at the top , who and how do you navigate the impact on your mental health and resilience ?
Just starting that conversation can raise awareness of risk and challenges .
The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | February 2024
2 . Provide Support Training Peer support should be extended to police chiefs nationally . While peer support has proven an effective resource for LEOs , it is not yet typically available to chiefs .
The Mid-America Regional Council has operated the Command Level Peer Support Team in the greater Kansas City , Missouri area since 2018 . Participants from police , fire , EMS , and dispatch complete a 4-day training program covering topics such as command stress , post-traumatic stress disorder , suicide risk , and line-of-duty deaths . During the program , they can talk to a colleague at their rank with insight into command-specific stressors .
3 . Implement Peer Hotlines Regional or statewide toll-free , closed suicide crisis hotlines should exist for police chiefs . In 1998 , New Jersey created Cop2Cop , the first confidential 24-hour hotline for police officers in the United States , in conjunction with Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care , to provide a crisis intervention resource for law enforcement personnel in the state . Calls from every community in New Jersey are answered by retired police officers , mental health clinicians , and peer support specialists .
4 . LEO Leadership Family Programs IACP has developed several tool kits and resources in the area of officer wellness to include suicide preventions , resilience and LEO families so we may look to engage law enforcement leader families as part of the solution by teaching them QPR or offering confidential resources to them as the high profile nature of the job may restrict access to care .
Most successful law enforcement leaders will attribute their success to their family support but who is supporting their families ?
Law enforcement leaders suicide is a serious and long-neglected concern . Changing this and moving toward evidence-based prevention starts with raising awareness of the problem through advocacy , research , and education . Salvatore adds , “ Police chief suicide must become part of the ongoing conversation .”
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