Law Enforcement Suicide: Psychological Autopsies and Psychometric Traces (In: Suicide and Law Enforcement, edited by D C Sheehan & J I Warren)

This chapter examines the presuicide behavioural patterns of officers who died by suicide, along with their pre-employment psychological profile. Findings are compared with a small sample of other officers who have threatened suicide. Themes apparent from the examination of psychological autopsies are discussed as possible unseen warning signs of self-destructive behaviour. Psychometric data obtained from officers at various points in their careers are analyzed for possible traces of behaviour to come. The implications from this study offer hope that law enforcement suicide may be reduced. JA