By Police1 Staff
BOSTON — As law enforcement grapples with a growing mental health crisis, Dr. Jeff Thompson, Ph.D., will lead a critical session at the 2024 International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference: Investigating Police Suicides: An Update on Psychological Autopsies. This session, which will take place on Sunday, Oct. 20 from 2-3 p.m. EST, aims to explore the implementation of psychological autopsies (PAs) in understanding and preventing police suicides.
Dr. Thompson, an adjunct associate research scientist in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center and former NYPD detective, brings over two decades of experience to the table. As the NYPD’s first mental health and wellness coordinator, he has been a pivotal figure in suicide pre- and postvention. His expertise in mental health, resilience and crisis communication makes him a leading voice in the effort to address the mental health challenges law enforcement officers face.
During the session, Dr. Thompson and other panelists, including Dr. Jacqueline Drew of Griffith University, will outline how law enforcement agencies can effectively train officers to conduct PAs and how to build regional networks to support these investigations.
For additional resources, you can explore this article on police suicide prevention or visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) at www.afsp.org, a leading organization in suicide awareness and advocacy.
NEXT: Interested in learning more from Dr. Thompson? Check out his appearance on the Policing Matters podcast where he discusses the art and science of crisis negotiation.
