A Texas Sheriff’s Office has had four current and former members die by suicide within the past six weeks.
According to Newsweek, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Community Engagement Division announced the deaths of Deputy Christina Kohler and retired Deputy Maria Vasquez on March 17.
This came only weeks after two other law enforcement officers, Deputy William Bozeman and former Deputy Long Nguyen were also found dead. All died by suicide.
Dr. Thomas McNeese, director of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Behavioral Health Division, told Newsweek that the suicides show how many stressful situations law enforcement officers can be exposed to and the toll it can take on a person’s mental health, saying that civilians are only exposed to two “critical incidents” in their lifetime, while a law enforcement officer could be exposed to one every shift.
Newsweek further reported that medical examiners found that Nguyen had died Feb. 6. Kohler was found dead after being reported missing for a week on March 13, and her death was ruled as a suicide. Vasquez was found three days later and had left the department in December, while Bozeman was found dead that same week.
Police officers are 54% more likely to die by suicide than members of the general population, according to a study published by Policing: An International Journal.
The Center for Naval Analyses reports that 60% of police officers who commit suicide were experiencing life challenges during that same time period. Another 34% of police officers suffer from depression, while 17% have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a post of Facebook, that his and his colleagues’ “hearts are heavy.”
“Today we learned of a Harris County Sheriff’s Office retiree who died from an apparent suicide. This makes three for us within the span of a week. Our hearts are heavy. We extend our deepest condolences to their families, colleagues, and friends. It’s a painful reminder that life is fragile, and time is not promised. May they Rest in Peace.”
