Off-duty Chicago police officer dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound inside station: sources
Counseling services offered to Chicago police after officer dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound
An off-duty Chicago police officer died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the 18th District station early Thursday morning, sources said.
CHICAGO - An off-duty Chicago police officer died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a Near North Side station Thursday morning, sources tell FOX 32.
The backstory:
The 34-year-old officer was found dead around 2:25 a.m. in a restroom on the first floor of the 18th District police station, located at 1160 N. Larrabee Ave, according to Chicago police and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
A large number of emergency personnel responded to the scene and officers could be seen saluting as a stretcher carrying her body was taken to an ambulance.
CPD Supt. Larry Snelling has encouraged officers to communicate with each other, take advantage of counseling services and support the staff who work in the 18th District.
"Our hearts are broken"
What they're saying:
The Chicago Police Department released a statement, which read in part:
"The Chicago Police Department is mourning the tragic loss of an officer within the 18th District station. Detectives are currently conducting a death investigation. Our officers are human, and we cannot forget that they face the same challenges as everyone else while balancing the difficulties that come with being a police officer. We ask the public to keep this officer’s family and her fellow officers in your prayers as we grieve this unimaginable loss."
The 18th District station was closed for much of Thursday during the death investigation, according to police. Service calls in the area were being handled by neighboring districts.
Mayor Brandon Johnson released a statement Thursday, mourning the death of the officer:
"Our city mourns the tragic loss of an 18th District Chicago Police officer. Our hearts are shattered and broken over this tragedy. My deepest condolences and ardent prayers are with the officer’s family, loved ones, and fellow officers as we grieve. This tragedy is a reminder that we must carry each other. Every single day, our officers witness traumatic scenes, and it is our responsibility to provide them with the support they need to navigate that reality. I ask the city to keep the officer’s family and loved ones, 18th District officers and staff, and the entire Chicago Police Department in your prayers during this time of immense grief."
Help is Available:
The officer’s tragic death highlights the importance of mental health support.
"I think we need to remember that these men and women bravely go out every day not knowing what they are going to face," said Dr. Robert Sobo, who is the director of the Chicago Police Department’s Professional Counseling Division/Employee Assistance Program.
Sobo joined the police department 25 years ago, setting out to support officers in handling mental health issues that, all too often, stem from the job.
"They risk their lives for us, for our wellbeing and our safety, and that costs a lot," Sobo said.
The division that Sobo leads consists of four key programs:
- Counseling Services
- Peer Support
- Alcohol Assistance Program
- Chaplains Ministry
The Professional Counseling Division currently has 21 licensed clinicians on staff who are available for both CPD personnel and their families.
More than 200 members make up the Peer Support program, while the Alcohol & Drug Assistance Program is run by sworn police personnel.
"A lot of these officers going through hardships, maybe they can get through that and help some other officer going through that, and that’s what I hope they find strength in," said Carlos Yanez, Jr., board member of Light the Line.
Meanwhile, nonprofit organizations, like Light the Line—which was founded in honor of Officer Ella French, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in 2021—are also on hand to help.
"It was very heartbreaking, but also a blessing that we were able to be there for the officers," Yanez said.
Yanez, who was French's partner and is a Light the Line board member, spent the day with 18th District officers.
"That's my way of giving back when they were praying for me and there for my family," Yanez said.
Both Yanez and Sobo are encouraging everyone to listen to their mental health.
"Just as you would go to the doctor when you’re not feeling well, or for an annual physical to make sure you’re okay, come in, talk to a licensed clinician," Sobo said. "You deserve to be well, to be happy, not to just survive this occupation, but to actually thrive in it."
The programs offered by CPD are completely confidential and protected by HIPAA. They are also available to the families of officers.
For convenience, CPD’s Professional Counseling Division provides services at buildings in three parts of the city—the Southwest Side, the Northwest Side, and the Near West Side. The buildings are nondescript, allowing privacy for those seeking counseling services.
Officers and CPD families can learn more by clicking here or by calling (312) 743-0378, which also provides 24-hour crisis intervention.
Editor's Note: Although the officer was named by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, we have removed the name of the officer until the Chicago Police Department provides a name out of respect for those involved.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. The Lifeline provides free and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across the U.S.
The Source: The information in this report came from the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.