NCJ Number
164572
Journal
Police Studies Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: (1996) Pages: 77-89
Date Published
1996
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Relationships between occupational stress, the availability of firearms, alcohol use, and retirement and police suicide are examined, and suggestions for reducing police suicide are offered.
Abstract
Many research studies point to a police suicide rate higher than the suicide rate of the general population. Police suicide is associated with firearm availability and expertise, continuous duty exposure to death and injury, shift work, social strain, criminal justice inconsistencies, and a negative police image. Police officers experience psychological trauma from exposure to violence, human misery, and involvement in life and death situations; nightmares, flashbacks, and fear of returning to duty are just a few of the symptoms related to such trauma. Firearms may represent an important element of police suicide since police officers have immediate access to firearms both on and off duty. In addition, studies indicate that alcohol dependency is a significant problem in police work and may lead to other work problems such as high absenteeism, intoxication on duty, and traffic accidents. Retired police officers face an increased risk of suicide due to separation from the police force, increasing age, loss of friends, loss of status as a police officer, and loss of self-definition. Ways of reducing police suicide are suggested that focus on improving the accuracy of police suicide research, intervention programs, suicide awareness training, and reducing the availability of firearms. 76 references