Another Officer Suicide. Is There Any Help?
Charlotte NC April 11 2019
Moments after learning of another security officer suicide today, a message was posted on Twitter from the Chicago Police Department regarding the number of officer suicides during the past year in their department.
The inner pain, depression, stress and battles of our everyday life is compounded for those of us who make our livelihood from working in the public safety, security, law enforcement or the military fields.
While many choose not to believe that security officers suffer much of the same physiological, emotional and psychological effects that many other frontline responders experience, the fact is, they do and few in our industry are acknowledging it, talking about it or helping our employees or our co-workers to receive the help that they need.
Sometime overnight, another security officer felt it necessary to end her life.
Alone, in a closed business with no one around to save her.
While the details of this person’s plight have not been released, I can only imagine what she faced just trying to survive making less than livable wages, working at all times of the day and night, probably alone and maybe in a less than desirable location or environment and feeling like things would never get better.
This past week-end, 11 security officers, including three who found themselves in life and death situations, literally fighting for their lives while in shoot-outs with people who wanted to kill them, were all shot.
Daily, not weekly or monthly, but daily, we see security officers, many who are unarmed and unable to protect themselves being shot, stabbed and assaulted.
Security officers never know what the next shift or the next minute will hold for them regardless of their assignment.
A quiet neighborhood or a closed business in no way guarantees that the security officer will not face a threat, be assaulted or lose their life.
Security officers today, face the same threat as law enforcement and as statistics show, they actually face more threats and are more likely to be attacked, harmed or killed than a law enforcement officer just because they are put into situations where they cannot defend themselves and have no immediate back-up.
Security and law enforcement officers are humans and the uniform they wear does not protect them from the ills of society or the struggles, pains, conflicts or stresses of life.
Not being able to pay a bill, receive basic medical care when sick or injured, relationship conflicts and everyday struggles of life can quickly begin to fracture a person’s feelings and thoughts and have them looking for a way out. Sometimes a way to end their pain.
While most civilian suicides are not published by local media, each year we are able to confirm through third party agencies and individuals more than two dozen security officer suicides and we know that the actual number is even more than that.
Please take a moment to take stock of your employee’s wellbeing.
Have a conversation, offer a lifeline, let them know that you do care.
Our employees should be the most important and the most valued aspect of our company and that should not just be a tagline.
For more information about starting an Employee Assistance Program, Chaplains Assistance Program or to discuss ideas of how we can all make a difference, please
contact helpdesk@privateofficer.com
Must Watch! Chicago police release video amid concerns about officer suicides:
‘How am I going to get up tomorrow?’
If you need help please contact:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 1-800-273-8255
Safe Call Now
206-459-3020
Private Officer International
helpdesk@privateofficer.com
