Special Report

Murdered by His Partner!

Yesterday, Officer John Doe of the Anytown Police Department was found murdered at his home. He was discovered lying on the floor in his bedroom.  Officer Doe was a 15-year veteran on the department; and according to the Chief of Police, he was “a nice guy and a great cop.”  Officer Doe was assigned to the Drug Interdiction Task Force. The case is under investigation and there is a rumor that Officer Doe’s partner of 15 years is the main suspect.

News Flash!

The Chief of Police announced today during an afternoon press conference that Officer John Doe of the Anytown Police Department had indeed been murdered by his partner of 15 years. Who was his partner? His firearm! The one that protected and helped him get home after each shift, ends up being the one who ultimately took his life. How? Suicide! The reason? He appeared to be overwhelmed with marital and financial problems. He recently separated from his wife and was left with considerable debt. The final straw appeared to be a recently announced internal investigation into the mysterious disappearance of money during several recent drug raids.

Does this sound far-fetched to you? It isn’t. Thousands of police officers have died at the hand of their partner, their own firearm. Departments and officers want to deny this problem, but none the less, it is real. Reports indicate that suicide kills three to eight times as many officers as those who die in the line of duty, making suicide a leading killer of police officers.

Suicide, Why?

What are the apparent causes of suicide? There are multitudes of reasons normally given. It may be personal like financial difficulties, failing marriages or problems with a fiancée, boyfriend or girlfriend. It could be employment related like potential job loss through retirement, layoffs, medical problems or poor job performance. There could be involvement in corruption or illegal activity. Any of these problems can be further complicated by alcohol or drug use/abuse. These problems may be symptoms of the greater problem of suicide. The root problem behind suicide is the feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. Helplessness is the feeling that help is nowhere to be found and that no one would understand the problem if it were revealed. Hopelessness then results, giving the individual the idea that since help is not available, no hope exists for them. They see no way out except to end their life. Sometimes they can see a way out but they take their life because they are not willing to pay the price for their actions.

If the problems are severe enough they may need to resign as police officers.  However that doesn’t mean their life is over. There will be other jobs or opportunities that will give them job satisfaction and also provide for their families. No matter how bad it seems, even if it means serving time in prison, there is help to make it through that time and come out better on the other side, having learned from that experience.

Why don’t officers seek help when they have thoughts of suicide? Many feel that no one will understand. Some feel their career, as a police officer, would be jeopardized if they admitted thoughts of suicide. Many fear being placed on the “rubber gun” squad and taken off the streets. The real reason, however, is a condition called pride. “A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”[1] It is necessary for a person to humble himself or herself in order to get help. This is a problem for law enforcement, since officers are trained and conditioned to be in control and help solve problems, not have them.  Scripture tells us, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man…”[2] and  “man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.”[3] Every human being faces trials and troubles in life and when a law enforcement member is faced with marital, financial or other problems they need to realize everyone can use help at one time or another. Don’t let pride get in your way and ruin a life that can have real peace, joy and meaning.  “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”[4]

What About You or Someone You Love?

Are suicidal thoughts abnormal? Nearly everyone, if being honest, would admit they have had thoughts of suicide at one time or another. By seeking proper help and dealing with the problems that bring on the thoughts of suicide, one can actually be made fit to do the job as a police officer. By learning how to take care of your own problems properly, you learn solutions to help others when they are going through trouble.  The bottom line is GET HELP! You may ask, “You’re a chaplain, how can you help?” First of all, I can listen to your problems and fears. I can be a friend who understands the unique aspects of your job in law enforcement.  Secondly, I can offer practical solutions myself, or refer you to other professionals who can help. Thirdly, I can help you understand spiritual solutions that will build a solid foundation for dealing with life and its many difficulties. Some see the Bible as a book of “religion.”  However, it is the most complete book on earth dealing with mankind and the problems of mankind for a period of approx. 6,000 years. There isn’t a problem you face that isn’t addressed in scripture directly or by principle.

The Bible shows the main reason we end up feeling helpless and hopeless. In the beginning God made Adam and Eve, put them in the Garden of Eden and gave them one rule. “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”[5] Later, Adam and Eve broke that rule. What was the consequence for us? “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”[6] Because of that one act of disobedience, all of us were born sinners. Regardless of our occupation in life, we were all born with the same problem, sin.

All the death, sorrow, pains and suffering of life is the result of sin. This creates a void in our life that can’t be filled by anything this world has to offer. Despite the horrible condition of mankind, God has an answer. “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”[7] Who is this one that was obedient? “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”[8] We then learn, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”[9] Jesus Christ has made the way for you to have forgiveness of your sins and eternal life. Although God is a God of judgment, He is also longsuffering, merciful and willing to forgive those who will humbly call upon Him for forgiveness. The Bible says your part is, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”[10] “ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”[11] “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”[12]

If you are willing to humble yourself before God and seek his forgiveness for your sins; and put your complete trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as the eternal payment for your sin and receive him as your Saviour. You can have eternal life, assurance of heaven and a peace in your heart that can only come from God.

For those who put their trust in Christ, the Bible says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”[13] A Christian has access to the greatest power in the universe, God. We can boldly approach the throne of grace to get mercy and grace to help in time of need. God also provides other Christians we can turn to in our time of need. “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”[14] There will be problems and burdens to bear in this life; there is no way around that. But there is help and there is hope. “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”[15] “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.”[16]

One question that always comes up when dealing with suicide is this, “Does a person who commits suicide automatically go to hell?” The answer, no! If you have a son who robs a bank and kills the teller in the process, is he still your son? Of course he is. You may not agree with what he has done and you know he will pay the consequences for his crime, but he is still your son. The Bible says, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”[17] By putting my faith and trust in Jesus Christ, I am given eternal life and made a Son of God. I am His son forever. I will have to give account for my actions as a son, but I am never in danger of going to hell. Suicide is simply a way in which a person leaves this mortal body. It isn’t a matter of how a person dies; it is a matter of whether a person is a child of God. If that person has never been born again into the family of God, they go to hell no matter how they died.

Suicide never solves any problems; it only creates problems for those who are left behind. If you, or someone you know is contemplating suicide, get help. Contact your support services available to your department or see a chaplain or your minister. There is help and there is hope!

Chaplain Tom Gresham for your benefit wrote this article. The personal views expressed in this article are those of Chaplain Gresham and are not necessarily endorsed by the Montgomery or Greene County Sheriff. Chaplain Gresham may be contacted by phone, 937-426-7444, email at: chaplainrobocop@yahoo.com or by regular mail at: 1506 North Fairfield Road, Dayton, Ohio 45432. 

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