An off-duty New York city police officer killed himself on Wednesday, adding to a troubling increase in death by suicides within the New York City Police Department.
The officer with more than 25 years of service, whose name was not immediately released, became the ninth NYPD officer to die by suicide this year, authorities said. Officials said he shot himself in the head at his home in Queens just after 6 p.m. He was rushed to a hospital in Manhasset, where he was pronounced dead.
The loss comes only a day after another off-duty police officer killed himself in Yonkers.
The department tweeted out the news, offering resources and support to anyone who may be struggling with mental health.
Police Commissioner James O’Neill has declared a mental health crisis in the department amid the spate of officer suicides. He has spoken out about the problem, urging officers to seek help if they need it.
“We must make sure our cops understand the process when seeking help during a crisis – their careers don’t have to be adversely affected,” O’Neill tweeted in July, linking to an interview with WNYC radio about suicide prevention.