Featured Image Credit: Harris County County Sheriff's Office
Topics: Mental Health, Police, Texas
Joe Yates
Topics: Mental Health, Police, Texas
Four former and current sheriff deputies tragically passed away in a spate of suicides that has rocked Texas.
In the space of just six weeks, Harris County Sheriff's Office - which covers Houston - suffered four devastating losses, with the retired Long Nguyen, 58, dying first, on February 6.
Serving deputy for the force, 37-year-old Christina Kohler, was the next to be found dead on March 13, followed by 42-year-old former officer Maria Vasquez three days later (March 16), with 61-year-old William Bozeman the final of the four deputies to have died by way of suicide, on March 19.
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Now, director of the Harris County Sheriff's Office Behavioral Health Division, Dr Thomas McNeese, has spoken out once more on the tragedies - which he described as having 'been deeply felt throughout our entire department'.
“These tragedies serve as a somber reminder of the importance of prioritizing mental health and well-being for our staff," he told People in a statement.
"[The Behavioral Health Division] offers an array of embedded specialized services tailored to the unique needs of HCSO employees.
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READ MORE: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE FOUR SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES WHO DIED BY SUICIDE IN SIX WEEKS
"From crisis intervention training to wellness programs and peer support initiatives, we strive to ensure our personnel have the necessary resources to carry out their duties effectively and safely."
McNeese continued: "Recent events underscore the need to continue strengthening and reinforcing our agency's ongoing efforts to support our team's mental health and resilience.
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“We believe that consistency, trust, and tailored resources are key in cultivating a culture that truly values the well-being of our law enforcement family."
A 2023 report by the US Fire Administration said that between 2015 and 2017, first responders made up one percent of all suicides in the US, with 58 percent of those being law enforcement officers (LEOs).
Meanwhile, a paper obtained by ABC News in 2024 stated that a devastating 1,287 LEOs and correction officers had taken their lives between 2016 and 2022.
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More than half (51 percent) of the officer deaths by suicide involved officers from local police departments, while 20 percent were from sheriff’s offices.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.