Texas Police Chief Addresses Mental Health Stigma After Officer’s Suicide

A police chief in Texas‌ is urging officers to prioritize their mental ‍health and support one another‌ following the tragic suicide of⁣ one of their own.

According to data from ‌ BlueHelp, an organization that tracks and honors law‌ enforcement officers‌ who die ‌by suicide, over 185 police officers in the United States have died from suicide between 2017 and 2022.

“The leading cause of death of the American police officer is suicide.⁤ [The] leading cause of death is by our‌ officers’⁤ own hands,” said Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia in an interview ⁣with WFFA-TV. “This⁣ is not just⁤ a Dallas thing. This is a⁢ national thing.”

This year alone, there have‍ already been over 55 recorded suicides among police ⁢officers.

What Happened?

On August 8, Matthew Bacon, an 18-year‌ veteran of the Dallas Police Department, tragically took his own life, just one day after being involved in⁢ the fatal shooting of a murder suspect. At the time, he was part of the​ U.S. ‌North Texas Fugitive Task Force.

On that⁤ day, Bacon and⁤ three other⁢ officers were serving an arrest​ warrant ​to homicide ‍suspect Corey Thomas, 36, at a Dallas ​apartment complex. ‌According to authorities,⁢ Thomas pointed a gun at‍ the officers as they tried to block his escape‌ with their vehicles. ​In ​response, the officers fired ‍at Thomas, ultimately causing his death. Fortunately, none ‍of⁤ the​ officers were injured during the incident.

The⁣ following day, Matthew Bacon was found dead from an apparent suicide, as⁤ confirmed by the Dallas Police Department.

Addressing Mental Health​ Issues

While the exact reasons behind Bacon’s suicide remain unknown, Chief Garcia is determined to break the cycle.

He believes it ‌is crucial to eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health‌ in law enforcement.

“Back in‍ 1992,⁣ if ‍I experienced a traumatic incident and confided in my partner, saying, ‘Hey, that call really affected me,’ my partner would have told me to toughen up because we ​had more hours to work,” Chief Garcia shared.

He emphasized⁣ the importance⁣ of preventing such dismissive responses and ensuring that officers have access to‌ the help they need.

The Dallas Police Department implemented ‍a wellness⁢ program over a year ago to assist officers in managing the trauma they encounter on the job. Additionally, an ‌alcohol rehabilitation​ program is available.

“When officers seek help, ‌we must ensure ⁣that all available resources are accessible,” ‍Chief Garcia stated.

He also emphasized the need for ‍officers to feel comfortable asking for help without ‍fearing the impact on ​their careers.

“Just as we prioritize officer safety ⁤in ‌dealing with violent suspects and protecting one another’s lives, we ⁣must‌ prioritize their mental well-being,” he explained.

“Ultimately, I urge any police officer going through trauma to reach out for help. Help⁢ is available. I want our officers to be well and healthy, not only for ⁣themselves but also for their families. That’s what matters most,” Chief Garcia concluded.

Matthew⁢ Bacon, who received over 80 commendations during his career, according to KTVT-TV, played a significant role in developing a database.