You Are Not Alone
Law enforcement officers often serve people on their worst days and in their worst moments, and the work requires that officers be prepared to put their lives on the line for their communities. For many, the hazards of this work include exposure to trauma which can be difficult to process. If it goes unchecked, the cumulative effects of the job could result in an officer doing the unthinkable and causing harm to themselves.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and while it can be a difficult topic to discuss, especially for law enforcement, it is critical help officers at risk and in need.
According to Blue H.E.L.P., an organization that tracks law enforcement suicides, more than 1,100 law enforcement officers nationwide have taken their own lives since 2017 alone. That figure includes 13 Kentucky officers.
Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) Resiliency Instructor Gabe Gillingham says the Blue H.E.L.P. statistics show that these events are not the result of a single call, but rather a build-up over time.
Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) Resiliency Instructor Gabe Gillingham (Photo provided)
“The average years of service are around 15, and that’s remained consistent since (Blue H.E.L.P.) began tracking the data (in 2017),” he said. “Most law enforcement suicides are males between 30-45. It is around the mid-career. That’s not to say there aren’t a couple of anomalies where there was one horrendous event in their life that put them into crisis.”
Gillingham says that this is a subject that should be addressed at the agency level first.
Tell-Tale Signs
While difficult to detect, Gillingham said many verbal and behavioral cues could indicate a person is contemplating suicide.
A common, indirect verbal clue DOCJT’s Resiliency Section staff hear during Kentucky Post Critical Incident Seminars (KYPCIS) is, “I’m just tired.”
There are behavioral clues, as well. For example, a stellar employee who is suddenly called into the sergeant’s or captain’s office because of on-the-job infractions.
While it may be just an infraction, the Resiliency Section staff teach law enforcement leadership to take a more thorough look at the officer’s life outside of work.
“When we teach, especially in the leadership courses, we try to get (leadership students) to understand that it may not be a discipline issue,” Gillingham said. “(Agency leaders) must take that human aspect into account and go into the weeds a little bit to see what is going on with this officer. You don’t have a go-getter type of employee one day; the next day, they’re a ‘turd’ when they go to work and do not perform. It doesn’t happen like that. There is a build-up over time. We’re not taking the stance of ignoring discipline. Discipline is still discipline. It still needs to be dealt with if a violation of Kentucky Revised Statutes or policy occurs.”
Personal Life Indicators
If an officer is suddenly having difficulties at work, the odds are that they’re having issues at home, too.
Common threads are a lack of desire to go to work or finding excuses not to be at home.
“That’s kind of a double-edged sword,” Gillingham said. “Some of us in this profession fall in love with what we do. We’re just eaten up with it, and we want to be there 24/7.”
He also said the normal use of vacation days is healthy and should be encouraged.
“But if you start to notice your loved one being home more or finding excuses not to go to work, that might be an indicator,” he explained. “Again, it’s the totality of the circumstances.”
Other more subtle signs can be even harder to spot. For example, has the person purchased firearms recently, or have they stopped by human resources to ensure their beneficiaries are up to date?
“We don’t pay attention to (firearms purchases) in our line of work because everybody is going out and buying more firearms,” he said. “For police, it’s usually no big deal. We change out firearms like some people change socks.”
Checking on beneficiary information is often normal when you’re in law enforcement as an officer never knows what type of calls they may receive.
Paying attention to an officer’s personal life and picking up on other cues can show agency leadership that an individual needs special attention. While some are considered “normal,” they can be looked at differently depending on an officer’s behavior as a whole.
The Talk
If a peer or supervisor feels an officer is struggling, broaching the subject can be tricky and awkward.
“It can be uncomfortable to have that conversation, especially with the individuals we feel closer to,” Gillingham said. “It’s an easy checklist when dealing with citizens on the street as you listen for keywords. You can take them to a mental health facility if you hear them. When dealing with our brothers and sisters, it isn’t easy. It makes those officers and supervisors say, ‘What do I do if they say yes?’”
The answer is simple, Gillingham said. Be a caring human. Be their friend and let them know they’re not in this alone.
Peer Support
Programs such as KYPCIS, crisis intervention teams, or locally trained peer support members are invaluable resources who can help during times of crisis.
“When peers and supervisors are picking up on those indicators, having that plan to sit down with them wherever they’re most comfortable and talking with them is vital,” Gillingham said. “You’re going to have to clear your schedule because it may be a tough topic for them to admit to because of the stigma that it is viewed as a weakness. The most important thing is that you ask. It doesn’t matter how you ask, and I know it’s challenging to come out and ask, ‘Do you want to kill yourself?’”
Gillingham said there are softer ways to approach a person to gain the information you need.
“We teach several techniques,” he explained. “We (police) are all skilled at interviews and interrogations. We know how to gear the conversation to get the necessary answers.”
An example of a soft technique is instead of asking, “Do you want to kill yourself,” ask, “Are things so bad right now that you wish you could go to sleep and not wake up tomorrow?”
Gillingham cautions supervisors to avoid the “you” approach.
“From a supervisory standpoint, it’s difficult because we get into the mode of you need to do this, this, and this. It’s very directive, and it’s you, you, and you,” he said. “When they have conversations with their subordinates, it needs to be ‘we’ statements. ‘We are going to do this,’ or ‘We’re going to do that,’ so they don’t feel completely alone in the process.”
It’s a team effort, so other people who can be called in to assist include clergy, family, and friends.
In 2022, the United States Congress released a report on law enforcement suicides, which stresses the importance of having a well-trained peer support system.
“There is a portion of the report on suicide prevention, intervention and postvention,” Gillingham said. “They have a similar process as far as sitting down with the individual to get the information you need, getting them to delay those actions, getting referrals in place, and staying with that individual through the whole process.”
During the 2022 Regular Legislative Session, the Kentucky General Assembly passed and Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 64. The bill added a new section in KRS 65, which allows governments at the local level to establish and operate peer teams.
“Having those peers within the agency can normalize outside help coming in and the willingness and ability to openly discuss that topic,” Gillingham said. “It’s still a huge battle we face in this profession and society.”
DOCJT’s Resiliency Section currently teaches a 16-hour curse called, “Assisting Individuals in Crisis.” It is designed for officers and dispatchers to assist individuals in their agencies. In 2023, DOCJT will add a 16-hour course called “Group Crisis Interventions,” which will allow trained officers and dispatchers to assist their agencies in critical incident stress debriefings and defusion. Additionally, DOCJT will offer a 40-hour peer support class and an advanced 16-hour course in assisting individuals in crisis.
Note: If you are or if you suspect anyone is contemplating suicide, call or text 988, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
