An FBI database established in 2021 to help prevent law enforcement suicides and increase awareness and understanding of the occurrences is now online. The Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection (LESDC) was recently added to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer platform, a dynamic online clearinghouse of FBI statistics and research. The collection displays the most current information about suicides and suicide attempts from participating law enforcement agencies.
Data includes circumstances surrounding law enforcement suicides and suicide attempts, general locations, demographics, occupations, and the methods used.
This year, according to the LESDC, seven law enforcement agencies have reported nine suicides and three attempted suicides. Firearms were used in seven suicides; two were listed as “other.” The collection does not collect information which identifies individuals.
Agencies can submit information to the LESDC through an online portal with CJIS
Producing a current and objective picture of law enforcement suicides may also help reduce the stigma around law enforcement seeking mental health help.
As more agencies contribute data to the LESDC and the results are published, law enforcement personnel may be encouraged that the feelings they experience are common and should no longer be perceived as a weakness.
Obtain the most current data available.
