Assembly Resolution No. 1576
BY: M. of A. Rules (Griffin)
MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
September 26, 2026, as Law Enforcement Suicide
Awareness Day in the State of New York
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious mental
health issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 26, 2026, as Law
Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day in the State of New York, in
conjunction with the observance of National Law Enforcement Suicide
Awareness Day; and
WHEREAS, Created by Blue H.E.L.P in 2020, National Law Enforcement
Suicide Awareness Day recognizes the service of officers lost to
suicide, raises awareness about suicide in law enforcement, and reminds
officers and their families they are not alone; help is available; and
WHEREAS, Each year, more law enforcement officers die by suicide
than are feloniously killed in the line of duty; this vital day of
recognition strives to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help
and recognize that one moment in time does not define a life; and
WHEREAS, From 2016 to 2022, there were 1,287 public safety
personnel, identified in the report as law enforcement and corrections
officers, who died by suicide; and
WHEREAS, The average number of suicides per year during the period
studied was just shy of 184; in 2022, the most recent year data was
collected, there were 183 suicides; further, 2019 saw the highest number
with 234; and
WHEREAS, More than half (51%) of the officer deaths by suicide
involved officers from local police departments, with 20% from sheriff's
offices and another 13% were corrections officers; the majority of
suicides are from departments with 100 or more full-time sworn officers;
and
WHEREAS, These large agencies represent merely 10.8% of all law
enforcement agencies and correctional facilities nationwide, but account
for 61% of suicides among publish safety personnel; and
WHEREAS, These findings regarding agency size and suicide are
contrary to previous research that suggested that officers at smaller
agencies may have an elevated suicide risk; the smallest agencies, which
account for about 4% of the suicides included in the study, reported
nine or fewer officer deaths by suicide; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
mental illness and suicide within the law enforcement community, and
more must be done to increase activity at the local, State and national
levels; and
WHEREAS, Last year, this Legislative Body successfully worked
together to implement a law enforcement peer support program to get
mental health assistance from those who understand the nature of the
profession; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 26, 2025, as Law
Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day in the State of New York; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.
