NYPD Faces a Mental Health Crisis After Fifth Suicide in Two Months

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is grappling with a devastating crisis after experiencing its fifth suicide in just two months. City officials have responded by declaring a “mental health crisis” within the department, prompting urgent calls for increased support and awareness.

The Sergeants Benevolent Association reported the latest loss on social media, identifying the deceased as a sergeant. However, neither the union nor the NYPD has officially released the individual’s name. This string of tragedies has prompted Commissioner James O’Neill to issue a heartfelt plea to his officers, urging them to seek help if they are struggling with mental health issues.

“To every member of the NYPD, please know this: it is okay to feel vulnerable,” O’Neill said in a statement. “It is okay if you are facing struggles. And it is okay to seek help from others. You may not know this, and it may be hard to imagine, but you are not out there all by yourself.”

The recent suicides include:

• June 5: Deputy Chief Steven Silks, 62, was found dead in a police vehicle in Queens, just days before his planned retirement.
• Approximately 24 hours later: Detective Joseph Calabrese, 58, was found dead at Brooklyn’s Plum Beach.
• A few days later: A 29-year-old officer died outside a precinct on Staten Island.
• End of June: Kevin Preiss, 53, a 24-year veteran of the force, was found dead at his Long Island home.

Commissioner O’Neill first declared a “mental health crisis” in June after the third death, highlighting the urgent need for intervention and support. The NYPD’s struggles reflect a broader issue within law enforcement. A survey conducted by NBC New York revealed that 78 percent of police officers across the country reported experiencing critical stress on the job, with 68 percent indicating that stress triggered unresolved emotional issues. Alarmingly, 16 percent of officers admitted to having thoughts of suicide.

O’Neill emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue and training to address this crisis. “This has to be a continuous process. This has to be done at roll calls. This has to be done in video training,” O’Neill told NBC New York in June. “We need to talk about this. This can’t be a deep dark secret. People have to understand that there is help available.”

Former NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan also addressed the issue in a video on Twitter last month, calling conversations about mental health “imperative” for law enforcement officers nationwide. Monahan acknowledged that some officers fear seeking help through department resources due to potential career repercussions. He encouraged officers to speak with family or seek external support instead.

NBC News Report

(Feature image: Max Pixel)