Mobile Alabama police officer commits suicide inside patrol car
MOBILE, Ala. December 15 2019 It’s a heartbreaking day for our men and women in blue.
A Mobile Police officer committed suicide early Friday morning.
This news comes on the heels of a series of police tragedies over the past week.
Chief Lawrence Battiste says Justin Carmen joined the force in March of 2018 was passionate about his job and this morning came as a shock.
“We are sad. It’s not only the human quality, but the brotherhood quality so we are remembering Justin and missing him,” said Srgt. John C. Young.
Mobile Police Department is mourning the loss of 29-year-old Justin Carmen.
Carmen was found dead in is patrol unit with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“They are harder hit by going and discovering Justin and then as the day goes on you realize you aren’t going to see him again. It is absolutely a loss for us all but his brothers in the third precinct are really feeling the worst part of it,” said Srgt. John Young.
A source says Carmen was on duty but wasn’t answering his radio so officers went to check on him. When they arrived, they found him unresponsive.
“There is a lot we just don’t know right now. Why this happened? It’s going to take us looking into his past to get an ideal of what what precipitated this event,” said Chief Battiste.
Chief Battiste says seeing their fellow officer down has left some traumatized.
He says chaplains and employee intervention programs are available and he wants community to know there are outlets.
“The community is impacted here at the department as well. Our officers need to understand what trauma really is and that is ok to feel certain ways,” said Chief Battiste.
Sergeant John Young is a peer counselor for the department. He says deputies often put their emotions aside, but he wants the community to know there are programs and he is pushing for better promotion of them.
“It can be in an office in a car. It can be in the park. It can be anywhere. We have to not only make it available but let our officers know whatever your need is there. There is somewhere there that can provide it,” he said.
Public Safety Director James Barber says it’s been a tough year for not only MPD officers, but law enforcement across the state.
“In Alabama alone I think we are leading the country deaths,” he said.
6 officers have been shot and killed in Alabama since January.
“Unfortunately, one of those being a Mobile Officer Sean Tuder killed,” said Barber.
Our city that is still recovering from such a tragic loss now preparing to lay a second Mobile officer to rest.
“We will always remember them and so as long as MPD lives. They live within us. They are never truly gone. They are never, ever, ever forgotten,” said Srgt. Young.
The department is asking for prayer’s for officer Carmen’s family and the Mobile Police Department.
At NBC 15, it’s not normally our policy to report suicides.
However, with our officers under fire nearly every day already, we want to spread awareness on this issue.
If you or someone you know needs help, call the suicide prevention hotline.
They provide free and confidential support 24 hours a day.
Please, don’t hesitate to call.
WPMI
