NEW study examining suicide rates among sworn law enforcement officers from 2016 to 2022, disaggregated by year, sex, and geographic region and division. Links to article at end.
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We previously published a report that examined descriptive statistics associated with these data (https://www.cna.org/reports/2024/03/law-enforcement-deaths-by-suicide). This new article examines rates, which are more insightful because it allows for meaningful comparisons across different contexts.
Using data from First H.E.L.P., the following examines 977 suicides of law enforcement personnel that occurred between 2016 and 2022, specifically by calculating rates of suicides by year, sex, and geographic regions and divisions.
While going through these rates, keep in mind that the national suicide rate for the general population of 10 years and older is 14.0 in 2021. (Although that’s not a great comparison, considering officers are typically 21 and older.)
Our analysis estimates a police suicide rate ranging between 19.0 and 27.5, with an average rate of approximately 21.4 over the seven years studied. The average number of suicides per year during this period was 151.3, with a low of 128 in 2017 and a high of 196 in 2019.
Between 2016 and 2022, male personnel had higher suicide rates (20.4–28.5, avg. 22.7) than females, who averaged 12.7—roughly half. Despite males outnumbering females roughly by 7:1 among sworn staff, the disparity in suicide rates highlights significant gender differences in outcomes.
By region, the South had the highest number of deaths by suicide but also has the largest population of law enforcement officers, resulting in the lowest average suicide rate, at 19.4. The West region had a similar rate, while both the Northeast and Midwest were more elevated.
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