Suicide.org - Suicide Prevention, Awareness, and Support

Suicide.org is a 501c3 NON-PROFIT Organization and Website

Suicide.org Suicide Survivors Forum - Click for Info!


Suicide by Cop


Suicide by Cop

by Kevin Caruso

Suicide by Cop occurs when people want to die but do not want to kill themselves. So they put themselves in a position where a police officer is forced to shoot them.

Suicide by cop incidents are extremely dangerous to police officers because they never know if the individual will try to kill them too.

Some suicidal individuals will point an empty gun at the police because they know that the police will shoot back in self-defense.

Yet others will have a loaded gun and will want to kill as many police officers as possible before they die.

Most police officers who are involved in suicide by cop incidents suffer emotional difficulties afterwards, and sometimes even suffer from post traumatic stress disorder.

And some people who die from suicide by cop leave notes explaining their reasons for taking their actions, and sometimes they apologize to the officers.

Suicide by cop occurs more frequently than most people would imagine. In a study that was published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine, researchers analyzed data from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

The researchers concluded that suicide by cop was surprisingly common and the number of incidents was rising.

Researchers studied data from 1987 through 1997 and found that 11 percent of officer-involved shootings were suicide by cop incidents.

Other findings from the study about those who were involved in suicide by cop incidents:

  • 98 percent were male
  • 39 percent had a history of domestic violence
  • Many individuals abused alcohol and/or drugs
  • Many individuals had a prior history of suicide attempts
  • About 50 percent of the weapons used were loaded
  • 17 percent used a toy or replica gun

If you even have the slightest thought in your mind about dying from suicide by cop, you need to get treatment immediately.

You probably have an untreated mental illness, like depression.

Depression is the number one cause for suicide.

Dying from suicide by cop endangers the life of officers as well as civilians, and it is always the wrong thing to do.

Suicide is never the answer to any problem.

Suicide by cop is never the answer to any problem.

Please reach out for help if you have suicidal thoughts of any kind.


If you or someone you know is suicidal, please go to the Home Page of this website for immediate help.

Thank you.

I love you.

Take care,

Kevin Caruso

Free Suicide.org Newsletter!
Enter Your Email:












Suicide.org

Disclaimer and Terms of Use: Suicide.org is provided for informational and educational purposes only; is not intended to diagnose or treat suicidal individual; and is not intended to constitute medical advice. While care has been taken in the preparation of the information contained on Suicide.org, all information is provided on an "as is" basis without any representation, warranty or condition, whether express or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to: quality; accuracy; completeness; legality; reliability; efficacy; or fitness for any particular purpose. Anyone using this information does so at his or her own risk, and by using such information agrees to indemnify Suicide.org and its content providers from any and all liability, loss, injury, damages, costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising from such person's use of the information and resources on this website. Anyone who is suicidal should call 911 now and receive help from trained mental heath professionals.