'More must be done.' SCPD mourns the loss of 2 officers who died by suicide
Two SCPD officers recently died by suicide, a "tragedy" that PBA President Lou Civello says affects every member of the department.
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The Suffolk County Police Department recently lost two young officers. Both died by suicide.
"We are heartbroken to have lost two more members of the SCPD to suicide. This tragedy affects every member of our department. The weight of protecting our communities takes a real toll on mental health, and that burden is borne by everyone who wears the badge," Suffolk PBA President Lou Civello wrote in a statement.
Nassau PBA President Tommy Shevlin says there's a mental health "epidemic" among police officers.
"We deal with trauma on a daily basis. It's bad news, it's sad news, and it's trauma. We don't get a break from that. Every call we get called to is bad news...Nobody calls us for good news," Shevlin said.
Shevlin said officers start to become numb, "but the problem is you're not really dealing with it."
Eventually, he says, "It's going to get to a point where you need to release that. You need to speak to somebody and normalize how you're feeling."
Shevlin says every police department should have a peer support team, employee assistance and training.
"We need to work together. We risk our lives for each other. We do anything for each other. We're there for each other. We need to start being there for each other mentally. We need to start asking each other if we're ok," Shevlin said.
Civello says that a national study in 2021 found that "suicide accounts for a 54% greater share of deaths among law enforcement officers than among the general public." He says they're "determined to change that."
Civello said that the Suffolk PBA is working closely with Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and all the other county unions "to expand mental health services for our members, and the county's 2027 budget includes funding for that work."
"More must be done, and we will not stop until every officer has the support they need," Civello says.
Catalina released the following statement:
The tragic losses of Detective Alexandra DeLeonardo Infante and Officer Christopher Durham have deeply affected the Suffolk County Police Department and the entire law enforcement community. The Department’s executive team has been working closely with the police unions, the mental health team and the County Executive’s Office to enhance our ability to reach out to and support members in need.
Recently, an SCPD executive was assigned as the commanding officer of our Wellness Unit to further strengthen these efforts and expand the services available to our members.
Policing is an incredibly difficult profession, and sadly, the cumulative effects of facing the daily pressures of law enforcement can have a devastating effect on the personal and professional lives of any man or woman in uniform.
Police officers dedicate their careers to answering the call when others are facing their most difficult moments. It is important to remember that behind the badge and uniform are human beings with emotions, navigating their own lives while continuing to fulfill their mission of protecting our community.
My thoughts and prayers are with all our members during this difficult time, as well as with the families and friends of Detective DeLeonardo Infante and Officer Durham.
