TKC MUST READ!!! KCPD SUICIDE AFTERMATH ELICITS FIGHT FOR MORE PUBLIC SAFETY MENTAL HEALTHCARE!!!



A recent suicide among their ranks as the KCPD doing a bit of soul searching.

Accordingly, here's a glimpse at a solution and work toward providing more resources for public safety despite a busted KCMO budget.

Moreover, this report should inform locals of the very real and confirmed risk that there are a few officials sanctioned by the state with the authority to kill who might be suffering from mental illness.

The reality is that rising trends in mass shootings, suicides and substance abuse indicate a growing need for mental healthcare throughout the U.S. despite recent cutbacks for any "socialized" medical services. Despite training and a great deal of trust/pressure even the most staunch supporters of law enforcement acknowledge that police are only human like the rest of us.

Here's the official word . . .

KCPD Chief: Resources are needed to address police mental health

The main argument . . .

The Kansas City Missouri Police detective who took his own life in February was the fourth member of our Department to do so in as many years. His suicide was the first we discussed publicly because, as a Department, we decided it was time that we face this issue head-on.

We must stop treating police suicides like isolated incidents. More officers died by suicide in 2018 than in the line of duty. The rate of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression for police and firefighters is five times higher than the general population, according to research from the Ruderman Family Foundation. Yet only 10 percent of police departments have a suicide prevention program, according to PoliceOne.com.

I’d like to think we are a little ahead of the game at KCPD. We have an Employee Wellness Unit and are working toward implementing a peer support program. But more is needed. We need a dedicated mental health professional on staff. We need a psychiatrist who understands what first responders face, has expertise in treating them and can devote all of his or her professional time to the mental health care of Kansas City Missouri Police Department members. We work with medical doctors when our officers are physically hurt in the line of duty and arrange for their treatment. Treatment for mental illnesses that are duty-related deserves just as much priority. Officers cannot properly provide for the safety of our city if they are injured physically or mentally.

Read his post in its entirety.

You decide . . .

Comments

  1. Careful, somehow I can see local activists using this argument in the push for "local control" which is really just an attempt to get closer to a police pension fund takeover.

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    Replies
    1. Appreciate the comments from the Chief and he's 100% right but let's not let the public off the hook here. Nowadays police are the ones who are blamed for crime, not the criminals.

      It's the culture that's insane.

      Shooting a criminal is worse than committing a crime. People feel like they are entitled to steal and hurt the innocent rather and the only blame is on the person who tries to stop them and protect others.

      Give the police a break, just a little bit of respect and obey the law. Really not hard to be a decent person if you don't pay attention to the socalled "progressive" agenda.

      Delete
    2. Your gay son loves you5/13/19, 3:02 PM

      ^^^ You're damn right grandpa. You get an extra apple sauce tonight.

      Delete
  2. ^^^ and god loves you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shining a light on the corrupt trash running the city of KCMO and other agencies5/13/19, 3:28 PM

    5th most dangerous city and not enough police to even make a dent in the crime.


    Go figure

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  4. Being in law enforcement can't be an easy job and to be honest not sure why anyone would be. You have asshats like Byron who hate your every move and kids who the same as spit in your face.

    Makes you wonder if a person isn't semi mental to take the job in the first place.

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  5. Well yes, suicide sucks but we can't just increase the police budget indefinitely because civic funds are already being misused and residents are stretched pretty thin

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  6. Some mental health service has been provided for the PD. Recently some of those supports have been let go. Some of the supports havent been used or even made aware of officers in trouble. I pray the PD will truly take action. Some of these supports have been in place but the PD needs to use them and not dismiss true distress escalating in our officers.

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  7. Byron Funkhouser5/13/19, 9:31 PM

    4:20 Don't put words in my mouth, asshole.

    I don't hate cops.

    I just think too many young, unarmed black men are being killed in self-defense.

    But, I don't hate cops.

    I just want this trend acknowledged, so solutions can be discussed.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Byron Funkhouser5/13/19, 9:35 PM

    P.S. thank you for inviting me to comment.

    You have a learning disability.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I agree Byron. For every one black man shot, police need to shoot two white guys. They need to throw in an Asian Pacific Islander every once and a while too. Glad we got this chance to talk about solutions.

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  10. Cops dont prevent crimes they are there to police us peasants

    ReplyDelete

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