Publications

Dell P. Hackett and John M. Violanti,
Police Suicide: Tactics for Prevention

Charles C. Thomas Publisher, LTD Springfield, Illinois, 2003, ISBN 0-398-07334

Thomas E. Baker

Published online: 25 December 2008
© Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2008

Police Suicide: Tactics for Prevention is a superior text for anyone who shares an interest in the prevention of police suicide. In addition, the book serves a wide audience, including generic suicide mental health care specialists. While addressing police suicide specifically, suggested sensitive intervention strategies may transfer to the general population. However, it remains important to acknowledge that police officers have distinctive suicide prevention and intervention needs.

Police Suicide: Tactics for Prevention recognizes that police officers, and their families, endure unique social and psychological pressures that set them apart from the general population. Police officers live in an environment that is structurally conducive to considering suicide a conceivable option for relieving themselves from the grips of depres­sion, loss, post-traumatic stress or divorce, etc. The authors address those special needs by examining the social dynamics of police culture and related role requirements.

Death positions itself continuously in the path of a police officer and beckons at their heels. Consequently, police officers often become disillusioned, and many fall into despair. Unrecognized police cynicism, helplessness, and hopelessness may quickly spiral downward to suicide. Police Suicide: Tactics for Prevention acknowledges that police suicide is a police community concern; officers and leaders at every command level remain vigilant and train to reduce untimely officer deaths.

Police officers go where others would not venture. Policing does not allow for retreat, only the fight syndrome. Therefore, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder always remains a possible hidden partner. Courting emotional disaster has its price tag, and eventually demands payment.

An officer's close relationship with a deadly weapon, which they come to regard as their salvation, may eventually serve as their demise. In police jargon, suicide is described as: "Eating your gun or weapon." A lethal weapon always waits nearby. Recognizing its lethality, police officers know that retreat from the world is only seconds away.

Easy accessibility to a weapon, alcohol, and depression makes a lethal brew for possible police suicide. A despondent officer attracted to alcohol is like the proverbial "moth to the flame." Police choir practice, the after shift drinking party for venting war stories, serves as the conduit for self-medication. Many police officers have disdain for drugs, pills and legitimate prescriptions, but alcohol serves as a celebration of survival of the last tour of duty.

Police Suicide: Tactics for Prevention and additional research suggests we really do not have a realistic statistical count on police suicide. The general estimates suggest that police officers take their own lives at a rate significantly more frequent than criminals do. One of the major obstacles is the under-reporting of police suicide. For example, the reverse of suicide by cop, is the officer who may deliberately position himself as the victim of "perpetrator suicide/homicide." This action avoids the suicide stigma, providing a hero's funeral and remembrance. Generally, life insurance and "death in the line of duty" may serve as the incentive of behaving carelessly and placing oneself in harm 's way.

Police Suicide: Tactics for Prevention presents a complete snapshot of intervention and prevention strategies. The crisis proportion of police suicide requires everyone's attention. The quest must continue for viable training and solutions. We must continue the research journey and stop this American tragedy of police suicide. Moreover, we must remove the stigma that blocks police officers from seeking the help they need so desperately. Everyone must under­stand the basic steps in suicide prevention, and provide the team work to reach for successful outcomes.

Affected officers often resist seeking help for fear of losing their jobs, being demoted, or having their personal problems exposed for public ridicule. These common systemic reac­tions must be overcome before any successful intervention can take place. Many officers feel that referral to a mental health professional would mean the loss of their jobs. Police supervisors have a similar value system, and because of this belief, they often fail to take the appropriate action.
Moreover, this book offers compassionate support and appropriate report strategies for post-suicide incidents. It acknowledges that the aftermath of police suicide offers additional opportunities and requirements for support, listening and meeting the needs of family and fellow officers left behind to deal with what seems an inconceivable act.
Police officers throughout the ranks must stop pretend­ing that the problem of police suicide does not exist or that it will go away. Someone must break the silence of denial and take action. With further research, innovation prevention programs, and proactive training, officer lives can be saved. Police Suicide: Tactics for Prevention supports that endeavor.

In conclusion, Police Suicide: Tactics for Prevention should be required reading for every police officer. It offers insight and may possibly reduce the rate of police suicide. Well-informed peer counselors and supervisors are in the best position to intervene and prevent police suicide; they have the most direct need for this publication.

Therefore, this book should be widely distributed throughout law enforcement agencies. Private and public libraries should order this text. In addition, community colleges, colleges, and universities should incorporate this book into their criminal justice curriculum offerings. The reviewer applauds the authors' efforts and deliberate attempts to make a meaningful contribution to field of law enforce­ment. They have successfully achieved that endeavor.

T. E. Baker
The University of Scranton, Scranton, PA, USA
e-mail: tjbaker404@aol.com

J Police Crim Psych (2009) 24:66-67
DOI 10.1007/s11896-008-9037-4

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