By Police1 Staff
WASHINGTON — Earlier this year, the FBI officially launched a tool to collect data on police suicides, known as the Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection (LESDC). Through the database, departments can report suicides or attempted suicides by their personnel. The program aims to compile national statistics to better understand police suicides and prevent them in the future, according to an FBI press release.
The FBI is obligated to collect the following information under the Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection Act:
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The circumstances and events that occurred before each suicide or attempted suicide.
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The general location of each suicide or attempted suicide.
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The demographic information of each law enforcement officer who dies by or attempts suicide
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The occupational category, including criminal investigator, corrections officer, line of duty officer and 911 dispatch operator of each law enforcement officer who dies by or attempts suicide.
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The method used in each suicide or attempted suicide.
These reports won’t directly identify the officers involved and only law enforcement agencies can submit information, according to the report. The submission of the information is voluntary.
MORE: Suicide prevention resources for first responders
If you are in need of help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.