Editor’s Note: Suicide is always preventable. If you are having thoughts of suicide or feeling suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline immediately at 988. Counselors are also available to chat at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Remember: You deserve to be supported, and it is never too late to seek help. Speak with someone today.
By Ryan Boldrey
mlive.com
DETROIT, Mich. — An off-duty Detroit police officer who shot and wounded two on-duty police officers was shot dead by of the two on-duty officers Monday afternoon.
The off-duty officer was a 45-year-old member of the department’s special response team, Detroit Police Chief James White told reporters during a press conference, streamed live on social media.
According to White, the man had called 911 at around 2:36 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 14 and informed dispatch that there was a suicide in progress at Davison and St. Aubin streets on the city’s east side.
Two officers from the 11th precinct arrived within five minutes, White said. Upon arrival, the responding officers witnessed the off-duty officer, in uniform, struggling with a mental health crisis.
The off-duty officer was threatening suicide and began shooting in the air, White said.
The responding officers retreated and took cover behind a patrol car. The off-duty officer then shot in the rear of the vehicle multiple times, striking both responding officers in the leg, the chief said. One of the responding officers then returned fire, fatally wounding the off-duty officer.
Both of the responding officers are in stable condition, White said.
“It’s extremely tragic,” White said. “Once they recognized it was one of our own members, they still had to to do their job and make sure everyone else was safe.”
The off-duty officer had been with the department for 13 years, White said. It was not immediately known if the two responding officers knew the man.
The off-duty officer had recently been on leave due to a serious degenerative health situation that he had been working through, White said. He had returned to full duty on Oct. 3 , and had never exhibited mental health issues before, the chief said.
“Tragically we are not immune to mental health crisis,” he said.
The chief said grief counseling will be available to all officers in the department.
The investigation into the incident will be handled by the Michigan State Police , White confirmed.
“The worst call I get is one that says officers have been shot,” Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said. “And we are fortunate today that the two officers who were responding, to hear that their injuries are not life-threatening. But it is a reminder of the courage that the officers of this department show every day.
“They went to that scene knowing that they were going to be confronted by a highly-trained and armed officer in the department who was having a significant mental issue.”
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