Orange City police sergeant shot and killed herself on Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach FL November 24 2019
An Orange City police sergeant shot and killed herself on Daytona Beach on Tuesday night leaving her longtime colleagues grieving, officials said.
“She was a very happy person, always laughing with everyone here at the department,” said Orange City police Lt. Jason Samspell. “There was no indication that she had any type of illness or stress. We are all shocked by her death.”
Authorities said that 12-year veteran Sgt. Kelly Jo Brubaker, 49, shot and killed herself on the beach near SunSplash Park about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Dispatchers said on Tuesday night that a woman, who the police department on Wednesday confirmed was Brubaker, was pulled out of the surf with a gunshot wound to the head.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, the agency that is investigating the death, said the Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue and Daytona Beach police received information that an off-duty Orange City police officer possibly committed suicide on the beach.
Officers found Brubaker floating in the ocean in about 2 feet on water behind 515 S. Atlantic Ave.
If you or someone you know is in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, here’s where you can get help:
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 800-273-8255 (TALK)
Stewart-Marchman-Act Access Line: 800-539-4228
On Wednesday morning, Wayne Miller, Orange City Police Department’s deputy chief of police, announced “the unexpected passing of one of our police officers – Sgt. Kelly Jo Brubaker.”
Sampsell declined to comment on whether Brubaker used her department-issued firearm.
A Massachusetts based non-profit organization, bluehelp.org, which tracks police officers’ suicides, said that in the 578 law enforcement suicides since January 2016 in the Unites States, most officers shot themselves with their service weapons.
The suicides tracked by bluehelp.org from Jan. 1, 2016 to June 31, 2019 revealed 44 of the officers who killed themselves were women.
The nonprofit states on its website that verified suicides for 2019 stand at 201, with 29 being retired officers. This is a 24% increase from 2018′s 92.
Brubaker is survived by adult children, Sampsell said.
According to Miller’s announcement, Brubaker started with Orange City police in July of 2007 as a patrol officer. After four years, Brubaker was promoted to sergeant, Miller said.
“She was an asset to the police department and served in her position with honor and distinction,” Miller said. “Additionally, Kelly was an adjunct instructor for Daytona State College instructing other law enforcement personnel.”
Miller said: “The men and women of the Orange City Police Department are stunned by the unexpected death of our dear friend and co-worker Sergeant Kelly Brubaker. Kelly was very well liked and respected as a knowledgeable and experienced police officer.
Before joining Orange City police, Brubaker also worked several years as Volusia County 9-1-1 dispatcher, Sampsell said.
Brubaker mentored many younger officers and served as a role model, Miller said in a Facebook post.
“The Orange City Police Department already greatly misses Kelly Jo,” Miller said.
The department has been getting an outpouring of support from the community, officials said.
“Please keep Kelly Jo, her family and all the members of the Orange City Police and law enforcement community in your prayers as we grieve this most unfortunate loss,” Miller said.
