As Chicago cops were struggling with the loss of a colleague who fatally shot himself Monday, another officer died of an apparent suicide Friday afternoon — deepening a crisis of suicides in the department, officials said.
The 38-year-old died of a gunshot wound in the basement of his Southwest Side home in Mount Greenwood, sources said.
The officer worked in the department’s gang investigations unit. He joined the force in 2006.
“It is with deep sadness that for the second time this week, I must share the difficult news of the death of one of our own in what appears to be a suicide,” Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said in a statement.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the officer’s family and friends, who are now grieving over this unimaginable tragedy,” Brown added.
“This job is not easy and is more difficult than ever. To the men and women of CPD: I know that it’s hard to take care of yourself and reach out. And I hear that, and know we need to do more.”
Early Monday, another officer, James Daly, was found dead of a gunshot in the men’s locker room of the Town Hall police station at 850 W. Addison. Daly, 47, told colleagues he was planning to retire even though he was notified two weeks before he died that he needed to be 50 to qualify for a pension, officials said.
At least 10 Chicago police officers have committed suicide since 2018, including Deputy Chief Dion Boyd, who was found dead of a gunshot wound last July in the Homan Square police facility on the West Side.
One officer who worked with the officer who died Friday said he thinks morale in the department is the lowest he’s seen in his career.
A 2017 Justice Department report found the department’s suicide rate was 60% higher than the nationwide average for officers.
Chicago police officials say they’ve bolstered their employee assistance program and earlier this week, Brown said he was asking NAMI Chicago, a mental-health advocacy group, to create a comprehensive “officer wellness strategy” in light of the suicides.
