In suicide prevention there are many high-risk populations hiding in plain sight that are overlooked. One such group is police chiefs. There are at least 3-5 media reports of suicides of chiefs, deputy chiefs, and sheriffs every year in US big cities and small towns. There doesn't seem to be much literature on suicide risk among in the upper echelons of local law enforcement. These individuals accrue all the suicide risk affecting those they manage plus that coming with their jobs. This often takes the form of being terminally trapped between the demands of elected officials and the needs of their departments and communities. Many lack civil service protection and may face termination or demotion if they resist budget or staffing cuts, "political" personnel decisions, threats to consolidate with other jurisdictions, and worse. Community dissatisfaction, personal issues, and pending retirement may also be factors. In any case, suicide prevention targeting police (as well as other emergency responders) must address risk at all levels of the department or agency.
Michael: Thanks for this citation. I never noticed this research gap until we lost a chief locally and I went looking for some insight. Best! Tony
Pertinent Citation: Suicide of a Chief Executive Officer: Implications for Intervention (From Suicide and Law Enforcement, P 67-70, 2001, Donald C. Sheehan and Janet I. Warren, Eds.) See https://www.ncjrs.gov/app/publications/abstract.aspx?id=193534
Account of a chief with gambling addiction subsequently who misappropriated department funds and borrowed money from other officers.
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