CHICAGO (WLS) — Another Chicago police officer has died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, marking the department’s third suicide in just weeks.
The video shown is from a previous report.
“The Chicago Police Department is mourning the loss of an off-duty sergeant who succumbed to his injuries today,” CPD said in a statement Sunday.
We are devastated.
Two of our members have recently committed suicide and we have just received word that a third member committed suicide earlier today.
So much more needs to be done to stop this horrible reality. Click below to hear more from President Catanzaro.
🔗: pic.twitter.com/Sy9bYYhBfQ
— Fraternal Order of Police – Chicago Lodge #7 (@FOP7Chicago) July 16, 2022 The officer was initially reported to be in serious condition Saturday after attempting to take his own life.
RELATED: Suicide prevention: New hotline 988 is 911 for mental health emergencies
The incident came just one day after another CPD officer was found dead in his home by suicide and weeks after another took his own life.
“We ask that the city embrace the loved ones of this sergeant as they mourn his loss. Please take a moment to pray for the men and women of the CPD who are grieving with the family of this sergeant,” the department added.
The identity of the third officer has not yet been released.
“It’s very heartbreaking to know that an officer was under so much stress, so depressed that they thought the only way out was to take their own life,” said Jamai Nelum-Fein, a former CPD officer.
After serving 16 years with the Chicago Police Department, retiring in April, Nellum-Fein said the emotional stress of being a police officer has become extreme.
“The holidays are canceled and then we have to be real — the stress our officers are under when they respond to calls — a person with a gun, a person shot, domestic battery, child abuse, sexual assault,” she said.
She said the stress partly led to her retirement.
“I went through this dark period, dealing with depression, dealing with post-traumatic stress, dealing with post-traumatic stress. It was too much. He was too aggressive,” Nellum-Fein said.
“We can always do a better job of looking after our brothers and sisters and trying to pay attention to possible times of crisis where we can intervene,” said FOP President John Catanzara.
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The president of the Fraternal Order of Police and Nelum-Fein agree that more can be done.
“I think they need to be more creative and actually put maybe counselors, social workers, whatever the case may be, in the actual areas,” Nellum-Fein said.
In response to a tweet from the Chicago Police Department on Sunday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot responded:
“Please know that we hear you and are working tirelessly to ease the mental and physical burden on our police officers.”
Please know that we hear you and are working tirelessly to ease the mental and physical burden on our police officers. 🧵 https://t.co/HTwSjEQImQ
— Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) July 17, 2022
I hope that any members of the @Chicago_Police who may be experiencing difficulties will consider contacting the Officer Assistance Program, the department’s licensed occupational therapists, and the Chaplaincy Ministry.
Call 312.743.0378 for more details, night or day.
— Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) July 17, 2022
If you are feeling suicidal or worried about someone you know, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. You can also send a text message to the Crisis Texting Line by texting TALK to 741741 .
For more information, visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
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