• Breaking News
  • U.S. News
  • Contact
  • View Print Edition
    • CL Digital
  • Subscribe
Thursday, February 2, 2023
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
Advertise with us
The Chicago Leader
Donate Now
  • Home
    • Events
    • Subscribe to the print newspaper
    • Scavenger Hunt Contest
    • Download Media Kit PDF
    • Ad submission
    • Sponsors
  • World
    New Laws

    New Laws Begin Next Year in Illinois

    Real Issues

    Real Issues in the K-Pop Industry

    China

    China Protests Against COVID and Lack of Freedom

    Trending Tags

    • Breaking News
    • Health
    • Coronavirus
    • coronavirus pandemic
  • U.S. News
    • All
    • Black History
    • Chicago
    • Illinois
    Cook County Minorities Face Financial Disparities

    Cook County Minorities Face Financial Disparities

    music

    My Experience Here So Far

    Chicago

    Chicago With the Help of Lori Lightfoot Is Adding Bus and Bike Lanes

    Trending Tags

    • U.S.
    • U.S. Census
    • Politics
  • Business
    • All
    • Jobs
    Phalanx

    January’s Letter From Phalanx Family Services’ CEO

    Chicago

    Chicago Is Home to Restaurant’s With High-Grossing in All America

    Tre'byen

    Branding With Tre’byen Sets New Standards

    Trending Tags

    • Wall Street
    • Trump
    • Bankruptcy
    • Federal Reserve Bank
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Arts
    • Book Review
    • Chicago Film Office
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Review
    renner

    Jeremy Renner Receives Love From Fans After Tragic Snowplow Accident

    avatar

    ‘Avatar 2’ Crosses $1 Billion Mark at Global Box Office

    White

    Earth, Wind & Fire Drummer, Fred White, Dies at 67

    Trending Tags

    • Movies
    • marvel movies
    • Dancing
  • Sports
  • Science
    • All
    • CBD
    • Climate
    • Marijuana
    Exoplanet

    Exoplanet 55 Cancri E Has 17.5 Hour Year

    Dangers

    Dangers of Smoking Tobacco

    Breast Cancer

    Breast Cancer Awareness Month Is in October

    Trending Tags

    • UFO
    • Coronavirus
    • Novel coronavirus
    • coronavirus pandemic
    • NASA
    • scientists
  • Health
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Faith
    • food
    • homeopathy
    • mental health
    • prostate
    Procrastination

    The Truth About Procrastination

    ADHD

    Those With ADHD or ASD Are More Likely to Suffer Anxiety, Depression

    COVID

    CPS Asks Students to Take COVID Test Before Returning

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • English
  • Spanish
  • Home
    • Events
    • Subscribe to the print newspaper
    • Scavenger Hunt Contest
    • Download Media Kit PDF
    • Ad submission
    • Sponsors
  • World
    New Laws

    New Laws Begin Next Year in Illinois

    Real Issues

    Real Issues in the K-Pop Industry

    China

    China Protests Against COVID and Lack of Freedom

    Trending Tags

    • Breaking News
    • Health
    • Coronavirus
    • coronavirus pandemic
  • U.S. News
    • All
    • Black History
    • Chicago
    • Illinois
    Cook County Minorities Face Financial Disparities

    Cook County Minorities Face Financial Disparities

    music

    My Experience Here So Far

    Chicago

    Chicago With the Help of Lori Lightfoot Is Adding Bus and Bike Lanes

    Trending Tags

    • U.S.
    • U.S. Census
    • Politics
  • Business
    • All
    • Jobs
    Phalanx

    January’s Letter From Phalanx Family Services’ CEO

    Chicago

    Chicago Is Home to Restaurant’s With High-Grossing in All America

    Tre'byen

    Branding With Tre’byen Sets New Standards

    Trending Tags

    • Wall Street
    • Trump
    • Bankruptcy
    • Federal Reserve Bank
  • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Arts
    • Book Review
    • Chicago Film Office
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Review
    renner

    Jeremy Renner Receives Love From Fans After Tragic Snowplow Accident

    avatar

    ‘Avatar 2’ Crosses $1 Billion Mark at Global Box Office

    White

    Earth, Wind & Fire Drummer, Fred White, Dies at 67

    Trending Tags

    • Movies
    • marvel movies
    • Dancing
  • Sports
  • Science
    • All
    • CBD
    • Climate
    • Marijuana
    Exoplanet

    Exoplanet 55 Cancri E Has 17.5 Hour Year

    Dangers

    Dangers of Smoking Tobacco

    Breast Cancer

    Breast Cancer Awareness Month Is in October

    Trending Tags

    • UFO
    • Coronavirus
    • Novel coronavirus
    • coronavirus pandemic
    • NASA
    • scientists
  • Health
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Faith
    • food
    • homeopathy
    • mental health
    • prostate
    Procrastination

    The Truth About Procrastination

    ADHD

    Those With ADHD or ASD Are More Likely to Suffer Anxiety, Depression

    COVID

    CPS Asks Students to Take COVID Test Before Returning

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • English
  • Spanish
No Result
View All Result
Chicago Leader
No Result
View All Result

Another Chicago Police Officer Dies by Suicide

by Sheena Robertson
September 2, 2022
in Featured, Headlines, U.S. News
0
Chicago

Courtesy of Thomas Hawk (Flickr CC0)

0
SHARES
23
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Don't like to read?
Chicago
Courtesy of Thomas Hawk (Flickr CC0)

Sadly, another Chicago police officer has died by suicide, making it the fifth one for the city this year. Jason Arends, 51, was off-duty when he took his own life yesterday. The Chicago Police Department stated they had “experienced the heartbreaking loss.” They asked, “that the people of Chicago pray for this officer’s family, loved ones, and fellow officers as they mourn this devastating loss.”

Just a few short months ago the city lost three officers when they took their own lives in July.  Andy Dobda, Durand Lee, and Patricia Swank death’s by suicide highlighted the crisis within the CPD, Arends death just enforced it.

Chicago
Courtesy of Inventorchris (Flickr CC0)

Last week, the department announced they are working with the “National Alliance on Mental Illness” to get their officers the help they need. The organization stated that through the partnership, they were able to identify a need to offer mental health support to officers because law enforcement culture has focused on “toughening up.” This thought process has prevented officers from seeking help.

Since 2018, the city of Chicago has had 20 sworn officers die by their own doing, including five from this year. The U.S. Department of Justice released data in 2017 showing the department’s suicide rate was 60% higher than the national average.

On June 16, 2020, the United States Congress enacted the Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection Act to help the nation understand the factors related to law enforcement officer suicides. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Data Explorer, “the legislation is comprised of information designed to assist in the development of programs, and potential resources, to help prevent suicides.”

Acting through the FBI, the Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection Act charges the U.S. Attorney General to establish the data collection. This information contains incidental data on attempted suicides and suicides based on the following:

  • The occupational category. For example, criminal investigator, line of duty officer, corrections officer, and 911 dispatch operator, of each law enforcement officer who commits or attempts suicide.
  • The demographic information of each law enforcement officer who commits or attempts suicide.
  • The circumstances and events which occurred before each suicide or attempted suicide.
  • The general location of each suicide or attempted suicide.
  • The method used in each suicide or attempted suicide.

The program does not collect personal information on any individual keeping the data they collect confidential. At the beginning of this year authorized agencies including telecommunications, corrections, law enforcement, and the legal system — adjudicators and prosecutors — have been able to submit suicide data for their officers.

Recently, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown asserted, “The physical and emotional wellbeing of our officers remains the top priority of our department.”

Counseling services will be provided to employees and their families by the city through the Employee Assistance Program. These individuals can reach the Employee Assistance Program by calling (312)743-0378.

In 2019, there were 236 officers who committed suicide. That number dropped to 176 in 2020. The following year there were 160 law enforcement suicides. So far this year 99 officers have killed themselves.

Life can be stressful and extremely difficult at times, suicide should never be the answer to solving these issues. There are people out there who would like to and can assist with troubling thoughts. To talk to a confidential emotional support person for free people can call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).

People can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.

National Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day is observed every year on September 26. Spreading mental health awareness may help save a life.

Written by Sheena Robertson

Sources:

Fox 32 Chicago: ‘Heartbreaking loss’: Chicago police officer dies by suicide Thursday, CPD says
Federal Bureau of Investigation: Crime Data Explorer
Block Club Chicago: Cops In Crisis: After 3 Officers Die Of Suicide In A Month, Colleagues Say They’ve Reached A ‘Breaking Point’
WGN-TV: Off-duty Chicago police officer dies of apparent suicide
Federal Bureau of Investigation: Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection (LESDC)
Blue H.E.L.P.: Honoring the Service of Law Enforcement Officers Who Died by Suicide

Top and Featured Courtesy of Thomas Hawk‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Inventorchris’ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

Tags: ChicagoFBIMental HealthNational Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Daysuicide
Sheena Robertson

Sheena Robertson

Next Post
Fonda

Actress and Political Activist Jane Fonda Has Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Recent Posts

  • Cook County Minorities Face Financial Disparities
  • My Experience Here So Far
  • Chicago With the Help of Lori Lightfoot Is Adding Bus and Bike Lanes

Newsletter

Loading
No Result
View All Result
  • About
  • Ad submission
  • Contact
  • Team
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • FAQ
  • Mission

© 2018 TNS - TNS theme by Frackle TNSthemes.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • Science
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Movie
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Health and Lifestyle
  • View Print Edition
  • Subscribe to the print newspaper
  • Contact

© 2018 TNS - TNS theme by Frackle TNSthemes.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Support independent local journalism by subscribing to the Chicago Leader print
and digital publication for just $15 a year.

Subscribe Now