Police officer suicide within the New South Wales Police Force from 1999 to 2008

This paper explores the range of personal, occupational, psychological, and social characteristics of police officers who commit suicide, based on a study conducted in the Australian State of New South Wales. Police officers are drawn from a population where mental and physical illness are minimal, at least at the point of recruitment. Even so, they have higher than anticipated rates of suicide although many agencies fail to keep proper records on the subject because of the stigma involved, possible insurance claims, and allied issues. Police community approaches and supportive clinical care are essential strategies in any attempt to reduce the incidence of suicide among police officers.