Behind the badge lies a silent crisis, as the staggering statistics reveal that more officers are lost to suicide each year than to line-of-duty violence, a tragic truth underscored by over 1,400 confirmed law enforcement suicides in the United States from 2015 through 2022 alone.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, there were 165 confirmed police suicides in the US
- In 2021, US police suicides totaled 234
- 2020 saw 304 police officer suicides in the US amid COVID-19
- US police suicide rate is 17.3 per 100,000 officers
- Sworn officers have a suicide rate 54% higher than civilians
- Police suicide rate in US is 25 per 100,000 for males
- Retired officers rate 2x higher at 34 per 100,000
- Police suicides exceed general population by 40%
- 3x more police suicides than line-of-duty deaths in 2017
- Police suicide rate 1.5x US working population
- Police suicides increased 21% from 2016-2020
- Post-2017, US LE suicides rose 33% peak in 2020
- NYPD suicides spiked 50% in 2020
- 72% of police suicides are male aged 40-59
- 95% of victims are male officers
Police suicide rates remain a tragic and persistently high crisis among officers.
Comparisons
- Police suicides exceed general population by 40%
- 3x more police suicides than line-of-duty deaths in 2017
- Police suicide rate 1.5x US working population
- Higher than construction workers (15/100k) at 17-25/100k
- Twice the rate of military personnel post-deployment
- NYPD suicides higher than national average by 20%
- UK police rate similar to firefighters but higher than teachers
- Australian police 50% above civilians
- RCMP suicides 30% higher than federal employees
- Police vs civilians: 20.9 vs 14.5 per 100k males
- More suicides than assaults or accidents in LE
- Retired LE 2x active duty suicides
- Small depts 2x large depts suicide rates
- Male officers 95% of suicides vs 5% female
- Officers over 45 have 3x rate of under 25
- Patrol officers 60% higher than detectives
- US police suicides outnumber firefighters 1.4:1
Comparisons Interpretation
Behind the badge lies a silent and staggering crisis where the cumulative trauma of the profession creates a graver threat than any assailant, turning those sworn to protect into the most vulnerable among us.
Demographics
- 72% of police suicides are male aged 40-59
- 95% of victims are male officers
- Average age of police suicide victim is 45 years
- 60% have 10-20 years of service
- White officers 82% of suicides
- 15% Hispanic, 3% Black officers in suicides
- Patrol/sworn uniform 65% of cases
- 20% supervisors/management
- 70% married or in relationship at time of suicide
- 40% have children under 18
- Veterans comprise 19% of police suicides
- Local PD 78%, Sheriff 15%, State 5%
- Rural/small town officers 35% higher risk
- 25% history of disciplinary action
- 50% recent critical incidents exposure
- Female officers 8% of workforce but 5% suicides
- Officers 50+ years 30% of suicides
- 85% used service weapon
- PTSD diagnosed in 30% prior to suicide
Demographics Interpretation
These statistics paint a somber and specific portrait of a crisis centered on the mid-career, white male patrol officer, often a family man and veteran, whose identity has become so intertwined with his badge and gun that they become the instruments of his final, desperate act.
Incidence Counts
- In 2022, there were 165 confirmed police suicides in the US
- In 2021, US police suicides totaled 234
- 2020 saw 304 police officer suicides in the US amid COVID-19
- In 2019, 228 law enforcement suicides occurred in the US
- US police suicides in 2018 numbered 159
- 2017 recorded 172 confirmed police suicides in the US
- In 2016, 143 US law enforcement suicides were reported
- 2015 US police suicide count was 140
- New York PD reported 10 suicides in 2020
- Chicago PD had 3 suicides in 2019
- Los Angeles PD suicides reached 7 in 2019
- Florida reported 22 law enforcement suicides in 2021
- Texas had 18 police suicides in 2020
- California law enforcement suicides totaled 25 in 2022
- Ohio PD suicides were 12 in 2019
- Pennsylvania reported 15 officer suicides in 2021
- Illinois had 11 police suicides in 2020
- Michigan law enforcement suicides numbered 9 in 2018
- Georgia PD reported 8 suicides in 2022
- UK police suicides in 2022 were 17
- Australia recorded 13 police suicides in 2021
- Canada had 22 RCMP suicides from 2015-2020
- In 2023, preliminary US police suicides hit 140
- Baltimore PD lost 4 officers to suicide in 2018
- Philadelphia PD had 6 suicides in 2020
- Phoenix PD reported 3 suicides in 2021
- Detroit PD suicides totaled 5 in 2019
- Las Vegas Metro had 4 suicides in 2022
- Seattle PD reported 2 suicides in 2020
- Portland PD had 3 officer suicides in 2021
Incidence Counts Interpretation
Despite a welcome dip in the grim tally, the hauntingly consistent annual roll call of officers lost to suicide underscores that the badge often fails to shield its wearers from the most insidious, internal enemy: untreated trauma.
Risk Factors
- 44% of police suicides linked to alcohol/substance use
- PTSD prevalence 34.8% in officers attempting suicide
- 52% had relationship problems before suicide
- 40% experienced recent job stress/trauma
- Depression diagnosed in 62% of cases
- 28% prior suicide attempts in victims
- Sleep disorders in 35% of suicidal officers
- 67% exposed to 6+ critical incidents yearly
- Firearm access increases risk by 5x
- Shift work disrupts 50% leading to mental health decline
- 25% financial stress cited
- Stigma prevents 60% from seeking help
- 18% involved in recent use-of-force incident
- Isolation/divorce risk 3x general population
- 70% untreated mental health issues
- Officer-involved shooting survivors 4x risk
- 55% chronic pain/ injury related
- Hypervigilance trait in 80% heightens risk
- 30% bullying/harassment in dept
Risk Factors Interpretation
Behind the badge lies a perfect storm of trauma, relentless stress, and institutional silence, where a cocktail of untreated pain, broken sleep, and a loaded service weapon transforms the uniform from a shield into a crushing weight.
Suicide Corrections
- Retired officers rate 2x higher at 34 per 100,000
Suicide Corrections Interpretation
It seems the thin blue line does not fade but tightens into a noose long after the badge is put away.
Suicide Rates
- US police suicide rate is 17.3 per 100,000 officers
- Sworn officers have a suicide rate 54% higher than civilians
- Police suicide rate in US is 25 per 100,000 for males
- NYPD suicide rate averaged 20 per 100,000 from 2000-2020
- LAPD officer suicide rate is 18.5 per 100,000
- Chicago PD rate stands at 22 per 100,000
- UK police suicide rate is 12 per 100,000
- Australian police rate is 19 per 100,000
- Canadian police suicide rate 24 per 100,000
- Texas LE rate 16.8 per 100,000 in 2020
- Florida police rate 21 per 100,000
- California POST rate 15.2 per 100,000
- Ohio LE suicide rate 19.5 per 100,000
- Pennsylvania rate 17 per 100,000 officers
- Active duty police rate 1.5x general population
- Small agency (<50 officers) rate 28 per 100,000
- Large agency rate 14 per 100,000
- Firearms used in 90% of police suicides, rate adjusted 45 per 100,000
- Midwest US police rate 22.1 per 100,000
Suicide Rates Interpretation
Behind the badge, the grim reality is that those sworn to protect us are quietly facing a crisis where their own mortality, tragically often by their own service weapon, becomes the final call they can't answer.
Trends Over Time
- Police suicides increased 21% from 2016-2020
- Post-2017, US LE suicides rose 33% peak in 2020
- NYPD suicides spiked 50% in 2020
- COVID-19 era saw 40% increase in police suicides
- Declined 30% from 2020 peak to 2022
- UK police suicides up 15% 2019-2022
- Australian rates stable but up 10% decade average
- Canada RCMP suicides down 20% post-2018 reforms
- Midwest US up 25% 2015-2022
- South US stable at 18-22 annually
- West Coast decline 15% post-2020
- Firearm suicides in police steady at 90% since 2000
- Retired officer suicides rising 10% yearly
- Small agencies saw 40% increase 2016-2020
- Female officer suicides doubled 2010-2020
- Officer suicides peaked mid-career 10-20 years service
- National average up from 140 to 228 2015-2019
- Post-George Floyd, some depts reported 25% rise
- Blue H.E.L.P. tracking shows volatility 143-304 2016-2020
Trends Over Time Interpretation
Despite making a solemn promise to serve and protect others, law enforcement has been lethally failing to extend that same duty to itself, as these alarming statistics tragically prove.
Sources & References
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