The sister of the NYPD officer who committed suicide Wednesday says the department ignored her warnings that her brother needed help.

"I called them, I begged them, 'Please, help my brother, get those guns. He's going to hurt himself,'" says Eileen Echeverria.

Robert Echeverria was 56 years old and a 25-year veteran of the NYPD. He was the ninth officer in the department to commit suicide this year.

In response, the department has declared a mental health crisis and is urging police officers to seek help for themselves and others.

But Eileen Echeverria says that is not enough. She says she reached out to the NYPD countless times before her brother's death, including a visit to the department in June. Echeverria says the department took her brother's guns away after her June visit, but gave the weapons back to him two days later.

"Within the police department, something's broken," she says.

News 12 reached out to the NYPD for a response to Echeverria's claims. A spokesperson for the department told News 12, "We are conducting an investigation."

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-275-TALK (8255).