July 2, 2008 Springfield, Mass: a 52 year-old officer retired in November of 2007 was described as having a difficult time with retirement, was arrested twice for shoplifting and once for breaking into a care. He was also experiencing a drug problem. His career was described as “distinguished. He was found dead in his home of suicide.

July 1, 2008: A Hamilton NJ police officer, 55, died of a self inflicted gunshot wound. One mourner stated, “When someone breaks their hand, we see it. When someone is suffering in their mind and heart, we cannot see it.” Another recalled him as “laughed often, enjoyed a good martini, and never hesitated to lend a hand.”

July 1, 2008: Hamilton Pa suicide: a 30-year veteran and deputy chief who had been demoted due to budget cuts died in his home of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had served with “honor and distinction.” A union representative stated he had never given any indication that suicide was on his mind, according to the article. “Never. Never. It’s absolutely shocking.”

June, 2008: Sacramento Police Department suicide: a suicide was reported within the Sacramento Police Department. No details available.

June 8, 2008: A 52 year-old retired California Highway Patrolman suffering a terminal illness became involved in a neighborhood altercation and then held off Milford, Del police until finally killed by gunfire. It was believed to be a case of suicide-by-cop, according to State Police Col. T.L. MacLeish.

May, 2008: Sacramento Police Department suicide: a suicide was reported within the Sacramento Police Department. No details available.

April, 2008: An 18-year veteran of the Reading Pa Police Department took his own life by an overdose of drugs. He had been fired in 2007 during an investigation for sexual crimes.

On June 17, 2008, an officer suicide was reported on the Milwaukee Police Department. This is the department's second suicide in 2008 and its fourth in nine months.

On June 3, 2008 a 46 year-old officer with only four months on the Meigs, Florida Police Department was found dead in his home of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was described as "outstanding" and "upbeat," and was due to be married that same month.

On May 29, a 51 year-old Jersey City police captain was found in a motel dead of a self-inflicted gusnhot wound. He had 20 years on the job and was heading the department's internal affairs unit.

On May 29th a Hendersonville, Tenn., officer was found dead in his home of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The day before, the 11-year veteran had been placed on administrative leave following a complaint that he had "created a disturbance," and the police chief had ordered him to receive a psychological evaluation. Neighbors were puzzled by the suicide and the police chief asked, "what would cause something like that?"

On May 22, 2008, A 45 year-old Stillwater, New Jersey police officer of 13 years was found dead in his home of a self inflicted gunshot wound. Law enforcement officers were "shocked" at the news. ""Good kid, good guy, well liked in town," said one city official.

A NY State police major retired in April was found dead in his New Windsor home of an apparent suicide by hanging on May 15. 2008. He left a wife and three daughters. State police "were shocked" at at hearing of the suicide. He had been interviewed in an ongoing scandal involving the NY State Police.

On May 3, 2008, a Boca Raton, Florida police officer with two months on the job was found dead, alone, in his locked apartment. He was being investigated for assaulting a female. His mother stated her son probably was devastated by the accusation. "When they took his badge and his uniform, they crushed his soul," she said. "He had many plans. Maybe when he realized that everything he wanted, his dreams, that his perfect record was tainted, would be destroyed ..." No sign of trauma was evident and an autopsy is pending; this entry will be updated with the report.

On April 23, a 38 year-old Palm Beach Sheriff's Deputy who was under investigation for his role in an on-duty shooting, set fire to his home and car and then shot himself to death. Of clinical interest is that the shooting incident occurred just months after the officer's brother murdered his girlfriend and then jumped to his death from an 11th floor.

On Sunday, April 20th, a Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputy, age 37, was found dead in his home of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His department has a 40-person Peer Support Officer program but it appears he did not avail himself of it; he had been on a fitness for duty leave but had been returned to work.

On April 17th in Portland, Oregon, a 50 year-old Federal Protective Services Officer for Homeland Security called his agency's dispatch center to advise he was going to shoot himself. By the time officers arrived, he was dead. "He was a well respected, trusted and longtime officer who began his career with the FPS more than 20 years ago."

On April 10, a 24 year-old NYPD officer with two years on the job smashed his own car into two parked cars in a Staten Island parking lot, then shot himself in the head. "He was a good kid, quiet kid, no problems," said a co-worker. Those who knew the officer could think of no reason for his committing suicide.

ALISO VIEJO - On April 2nd, an on-duty Orange County sheriff's investigator was found dead of a gunshot wound in the driver's seat of an unmarked police car on Wednesday afternoon. An announcement is pending as to whether the man was killed or committed suicide. He had been considered a suicide risk.

On March 28, the former sheriff of the Morton County , North Dakota, Sheriff's Department, age 61, was found dead in his back yard of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He left office in 2006.

On March 27th, a detective with the Upper Gwynedd, Pa, Police Department was found dead of a self inflicted gunshot wound in the department's evidence room. In his 40's, he had been with the department since 1995. The chief described him as "very valued and loved," and noted that "We are going to do whatever we can to help his family."

On March 27, a 12-year veteran and lieutenant of the Winnsboro, Texas Sheriffs Department was found dead outside his home of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had been fired one week ago for misusing jail labor. Age 57, the sheriff said the lieutenant was "loved and respected by the people he worked with."

On March 21st, an 11-year veteran of the Norwalk, Conn. Police Department was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a church parking lot. He was 38 years old. The department announced he will be buried with full honors.

March 16, 2008: On his 25th anniversary with the Brentwood, Tennessee Police Department, an officer was found dead in his police car of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

On March 13, 2008, a 33-year veteran of the Franklin, New Jersey Police Department was working what appeared to be a routine day when he returned to the police station and shot himself to death. It was found that the officer had stolen more than $51,000 from the evidence vault.

On March 1, 2008, a Holts Summit Missouri police officer was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head in another officer's home. The death was initially declared a suicide but at the family's insistence, further investigation is being conducted.

On February 28th a 47 year-old member of the Clarksville, Tennessee Police Department was found in his police car, dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. His death was a shock to all.

On February 18th, an off-duty New York City police officer was found dead in a park, and police suspect he shot himself with his own gun. New York City police aren't releasing the officer's name. His body was found at about 8 a.m. Monday in Poppenhusen Park in the College Point section of Queens.

** February 16th--Illustrating the difficulty tracking police suicides, an interview on Fox 13 with the Chief of the Salt Lake City Police Department reports a "high ranking" official committed suicide. The report adds that three other officers in the Salt Lake area have committed suicide "this year"--all of which appear to have escaped media attention.

On February 12, a ten-year veteran of the West Virginia State Police was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on the back porch of his Romney home. His was the second state police suicide in the past year. He had been under investigation on a non-criminal matter.

On January 30th, a 42 year-old Carbondale, Pa police officer of 15 years died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was described as "quiet, reserved and Happy go lucky," and was widely involved in community activities. "No one saw it coming," said one.

January 23. 2008 - Cook County officials found a 49 year-old officer dead of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. He was parked alone in a cemetery in his running car with a gun beside him.

On January 21, 2008, a 19-year veteran of the Batavia, Illinois Police Department was found dead of a self inflicted gunshot wound in the parking lot of Pratt's Wayne Woods. The officer was 43 years old. His was the second suicide in 13 months on this department.

January 21, 2008 (Milwaukee) - Dave Arndt was just finishing his meeting this month on how to prevent police officers from killing themselves when the call came in.

     A seven year veteran Milwaukee police officer, age 33, was dead.

     The officer, who had been on medical leave for depression, had recently been cleared to return to work. Her death Jan. 4 was ruled a suicide.

     It was the third suicide in the Police Department since September and the sixth in less than three years.

On January 20, 2008 a 38 year-old Prince George's County police officer was found dead in her home of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. With her was her 45 year-old fiance who lived with her, in critical condition from multiple gunshot wounds.

A former officer for the Prichard, Alabama Police Department committed suicide January 20, 2008. Details are sketchy, but he had been wounded in 2001 in an ambush, receiving a bullet to the neck. He balked when his department wanted him "to work a desk," and worked for several departments, recently applying to work for the Mobile County Sheriff's Department.

On January 18, a Detroit police officer drove to an abandoned site behind the Michigan Central Depot. A five-year veteran of the department, she then shot herself in the abdomen. She had recently had an argument with her husband.

On January 12, 2008, a 20-year veteran of the Marion, Virginia Police Department was found dead in his car of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on a service road. He was on duty at the time.

On January 10, 2008, a Fulton Missouri police Lieutenant and his wife were found dead in their home is what has been ruled a murder-suicide. "All of us here throughout the city are just shocked and saddened," stated the mayor.

On January 9th, 2008, a Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputy shot himself to death in his apartment. His was the second suicide on that department in the past year. One official said, "It was an absolute surprise."

On January 4, 2008 the Chief of the Palmer Lake Police Department (Colorado) was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound by his wife and daughter. He had been an officer with the department before taking over as chief a year ago.

On January 2, 2008 an officer of a New Jersey County Jail shot himself to death after a note left by an escapee ridiculed him. He died shortly before scheduled to meet with detectives regarding the escape. While he was cleared of involvement, "some who knew him said that they thought he was distraught over the implication that he was responsible for the escape."