Cop susicides trigger guns prohibition

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 3:27 am

The battered reputation of Belgium's security forces suffered a fresh blow yesterday when it emerged that police officers have been banned from taking guns home after a spate of susicides involving service pistols.

The ban is part of a patern, Belgium's internal security service, the ''Surete de I'Etat'', disarmed almost all its field agents in April after one drunkenly tried to shoot a colleague in the head.

This time, uniformed police officers have been told to leave their guns in police stations at the end of their shifts.

So far this year 11 policemen have killed themselves.

www.dailytelegraph.co.uk

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 10:33 am

That story sure makes me respect those police officers. Can't be trusted with their own guns. Sheesh. "Romper Room for Kiddies in the Low Countries" - coming soon to a theater near you.

capt_buzzard wrote: The battered reputation of Belgium's security forces suffered a fresh blow yesterday when it emerged that police officers have been banned from taking guns home after a spate of susicides involving service pistols.

The ban is part of a patern, Belgium's internal security service, the ''Surete de I'Etat'', disarmed almost all its field agents in April after one drunkenly tried to shoot a colleague in the head.

This time, uniformed police officers have been told to leave their guns in police stations at the end of their shifts.

So far this year 11 policemen have killed themselves.

www.dailytelegraph.co.uk

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 10:46 am

but why the high suicide rate? i guess i can answer my own question ...historically cops have very high rates of alcoholism and divorce, and domestic violence as well. the job steals your soul sometimes.

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 12:52 pm

lady cop wrote: but why the high suicide rate? i guess i can answer my own question ...historically cops have very high rates of alcoholism and divorce, and domestic violence as well. the job steals your soul sometimes. Not Lady Cops. Not Lady Cop.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 8:31 pm

No Buzz, not me...xoxoxox.........but instead of the traditional problems i had a heart attack (young) what you see and do has to come out somehow. and FR , you are right, the 12 hour shifts we have been on for 3 years are killing us, especially since we are short and are usually ordered to work 12 on our days off. the problem is total exhaustion, which i consider unsafe on any level. we do ride alone, and have many miles to cover. we can be 25 miles from the nearest backup. our budget is short and we have a no-hire policy now until sept. or oct. and even then the applicants have not been through academy. they cannot work without an FTO...field training officer. they are civilians riding along and a big worry to the FTO. i don't know if all departments are hurting this way. our sheriff tries to take care of us and we get a raise every october. with the OT you can make some serious money if you live long enough. ~~~~please don't misunderstand...i love being a cop and feel it is a calling.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 9:26 pm

Far Rider wrote: firefighters for emergencies that rarely come, but when they do you need those firfighters... why are the cops not staffed the same?a few reasons. we do get young people right out of the military applying. they are good candidates for police work, my nephew among them, just back from iraq and going on maryland state police. i am the first cop in my family, he will be the second. my Dad, if he were alive, would be horrified. he was an MIT professor. he always got upset at my "risky" behavior when he wanted me in academia. but god i have loved criminology since i was 18. it's about security and risk. there are some who yearn for it and the so-called "glamour" --- then see the reality of it. down and dirty. i am not sure my nephew really gets it, but he should try. in my case, and this is really personal, i get my satisfaction from busting criminals. pure and simple. i like it.

Tombstone · Post by **Tombstone** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 12:48 am

lady cop wrote: but why the high suicide rate? i guess i can answer my own question ...historically cops have very high rates of alcoholism and divorce, and domestic violence as well. the job steals your soul sometimes.

I should have said: "Belgium's Security Forces." It's tragic that the suicides are happening. I just question the knee-jerk response by the policy makers. When clocked-in you are mentally stable to have a gun. When you clock out, you are not.

This penalizes the entire force and hand-ties many good officers who should be able to carry off-duty.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 4:13 am

you know according to my sheriff we are never off duty. we have to carry at all times. i found this story very disturbing, to have to turn in their weapons because of the risk of suicide. it hurts to read that. i can see where people would feel as you do. i am mystified. .......but here is a case, one of ours from the next county , a sgt. , killed his wife with his duty weapon. in front of his 5 year old son. what's bad is, if a florida cop is charged with domestic violence they take our gun away, they took his gun, then the county commissioners gave his gun back. he killed her the same day. there is one big-ass lawsuit going on. i arrested him. he looked like hell. and he was sentenced to 20 years.i went to court with him that day, he was a tiny shuffling creature, not the cop i knew. the emotions stirred by this job are something nobody can comprehend.

capt_buzzard · Post by **capt_buzzard** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 9:31 am

As they say in England, A Policeman's Lot Is Not A Happy Lot'. But where would we be without you. Full praise for our Police.:-6

turbonium · Post by **turbonium** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 10:33 pm

lady cop wrote: i make them laugh even as i cuff them up. one guy called me "cutie". i walked up to this 6'5" guy, put him to the wall and my finger in his nose, and said "that is DEPUTY CUTIE" to you! god knows why i didn't get killed. i could start a thread on funny stories.
You more than likely intimidated him with what you were capable of, LC! Big boys can sometimes be big babies if they come across someone not afraid of them just because of their size. And you didn't flinch an inch! Way to go, girl!!