FBI CJIS looks to bring awareness to law enforcement suicide

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — In observance of Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day, the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division held an event Thursday as it looks to end the stigma behind talking about suicide.

During the event, FBI CJIS welcomed therapy dogs, miniature horses and ponies to meet with employees, alongside additional resource tables for those struggling with mental health.

A presentation was also held for employees which included remarks from CJIS’ acting assistant director Timothy Ferguson as well as keynote speaker William “Mac” Babb III, who’s the Chief of Police at Virginia Tech.

“We have to reduce the stigma and remove the stigma of law enforcement officer suicide and not discussing it and not talking about it, we have to get it out into the open and the only way to do that is to raise the awareness, have open and honest conversations and talk about mental health and resiliency for all employees that work in the law enforcement profession,” Ferguson said.

Agencies have sent statistics to the division which state that law enforcement suicide rates encapsulate around 30 people per year, though Ferguson said he believes agencies are under-reporting due to the sensitivity of the subject.

CJIS focuses on health, wellness, and resiliency by offering places around campus for employees to recenter and collect themselves. Three licensed clinicians are also available for CJIS staff as its motto when approaching law enforcement suicide is “not one more.”

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