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| NCJ Number:
|
NCJ 047129
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| Title:
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SUICIDE AMONG POLICE
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| Author(s):
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M F HEIMAN
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| Corporate Author:
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American Psychiatric Assoc
United States
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| Publication Date:
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1977 |
| Pages:
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5 |
| Type:
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Studies/research reports |
| Origin:
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United States |
| Language:
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English |
| Annotation:
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TO ELUCIDATE REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN POLICE SUICIDES, DATA ON SUICIDES WERE OBTAINED FROM POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN 23 U.S. CITIES AND FROM THE LONDON, ENGLAND, METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT. |
| Abstract:
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DESPITE THE DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING ACCURATE AND RELIABLE DATA, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENCES IN SUICIDE PATTERNS COULD BE OBSERVED. IN LONDON, THE TYPICAL POLICE SUICIDE WAS MARRIED, IN HIS EARLY 40'S, HAD BEEN ON THE FORCE FOR 20 YEARS, AND USED GAS INHALATION OR DRUGS AS THE MEANS OF SUICIDE. NONE OF THE LONDON SUICIDES USED A HANDGUN. IN THE AMERICAN CITIES, THE TYPICAL POLICE SUICIDE WAS IN HIS LATE 40'S, WAS DIVORCED OR SEEKING DIVORCE, WAS AT OR NEAR RETIREMENT AFTER 15 OR MORE YEARS OF SERVICE, HAD ALCOHOL-RELATED PROBLEMS, AND WAS LIKELY TO USE A HANDGUN. SUICIDE RATES APPEAR TO BE HIGHER ON THE EAST AND WEST COASTS THAN IN THE MIDWEST OR SOUTH. TABULAR DATA ON NUMBER OF SUICIDES AND SUICIDE METHODOLOGY ARE PRESENTED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SUICIDE FAVORED BY AMERICAN AND ENGLISH POLICE MAY BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO SOCIALIZATION DIFFERENCES, AND THE EXTENSIVE USE OF HANDGUNS IN AMERICAN POLICE WORK. SEVERAL PSYCHODYNAMIC EXPLANATIONS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED FOR POLICE SUICIDES, INCLUDING RETROFLEX MURDER AND NARCISSISTIC INJURY. THE POLICE OFFICER'S INABILITY TO ADEQUATELY FULFULL THE NUMEROUS NONENFORCEMENT AND CARETAKER ROLES EXPECTED OF THEM, COUPLED WITH CONSTANT EXPOSURE TO HUMAN MISERY, DEATH, AND UNRELENTING DEMANDS FOR INTERPERSONAL GIVING, MAY ALSO INCREASE THE PROBABILITY OF SUICIDE IN THE POLICE POPULATION. ANOTHER POSSIBILITY INVOLVES THE OCCUPATIONAL ALIENATION OF THE POLICE OFFICER WHO HAS LITTLE CONTROL OVER THE MEANS OR DISTRIBUTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, MATTERS USUALLY DOMINATED BY LEGISLATURES, COURTS, AND PRESSURE GROUPS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS PROVIDE COUNSELING SERVICES FOR THEIR MEMBERS. PHYSICAL SECURITY, A SENSE OF BELONGING, EFFICACY OF WORK, AND SELF-TRANSCENDENCY BY COMMUNITY LEADERS MAY ALSO AID IN REDUCING POLICE SUICIDES. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (JAP) |
| Index Term(s):
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Police responsibilities ; Suicide ; Behavioral science research/ ; Behavior under stress ; Police personnel ; Mental health ; England ; United States of America |
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To cite this abstract, use the following link:
http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/Publications/abstract.aspx?ID=47129
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