Four L.A. sheriff’s employees died of suicide in 24 hours

Warning: This story contains dialogue of suicide.

The suicide deaths of 4 present and former Los Angeles Sheriff’s Division workers over a 24-hour span have prompted a plea from Sheriff Robert Luna urging deputies to examine on the well-being of their colleagues and associates.

“We’re surprised to be taught of those deaths, and it has despatched shock waves of feelings all through the division as we try to deal with the lack of not only one, however 4 beloved lively and retired members of our division household,” Luna stated in an emailed assertion Tuesday. “Throughout making an attempt occasions like these it’s vital for personnel no matter rank or place to examine on the well-being of different colleagues and associates.”

Luna stated he had the “deepest concern for our workers’ well-being,” including that the division was “urgently exploring avenues to cut back work stress elements to help our workers’ work and private lives.” He stated the division’s Murder Bureau would examine the deaths.

There isn’t a indication that that the deaths had been associated or that foul play was concerned, however division sources who spoke on the situation of anonymity due to the continuing investigation stated the third and fourth deaths had been found as phrase of the sooner deaths had been spreading via the company.

Luna’s feedback got here a day after the suicides of 1 former and three present workers, which occurred inside a 24-hour span that started Monday.

Amongst them was Cmdr. Darren Harris, who turned a recognizable determine on TV information over a 25-year profession throughout which he served as a chief division spokesperson. Harris was discovered lifeless in his dwelling in Santa Clarita on Monday morning, in response to a number of sources. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, stated the sources, who agreed to talk with The Occasions on the situation of anonymity as a result of his dying hasn’t been publicly acknowledged.

Harris rose steadily via division ranks, with a number of stopovers in media relations, together with stints during which he oversaw the Transit Providers Bureau and ran the Santa Clarita station.

Someday after midday Monday, authorities discovered the physique of Greg Hovland, a sergeant who labored within the Antelope Valley earlier than his retirement, at his Quartz Hill dwelling, in response to the sources. One other worker was discovered lifeless shortly after sundown at a residence in Stevenson Ranch. The fourth dying was reported at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, when sheriff’s murder detectives responded to a hospital in Pomona the place an worker died from suicide.

Observers stated the suicides underscored a long-standing drawback for regulation enforcement officers throughout Los Angeles as elsewhere. Lately, research have proven that extra officers have died by suicide than the quantity killed within the line of responsibility. Officers even have increased dangers of suicide than the final inhabitants, a disparity that some researchers have attributed to the stresses of police work and heightened public scrutiny over latest high-profile regulation enforcement killings — mixed with their quick access to firearms.

The danger is especially acute amongst members of smaller departments, researchers say, which are likely to have fewer sources accessible for officers combating suicidal ideas. Based on the web site Blue H.E.L.P., which tracks officer suicides, 81 officers have taken their lives this yr throughout the nation; in 2022, there have been 172 suicides.

In his assertion, Luna stated the division’s Psychological Providers Bureau and the Harm and Well being Help Unit had been working to supply counseling and different sources to the households of the officers.

“Moreover, the division has a Peer Help Program that members can use for extra help,” Luna stated in his assertion.

4 different Sheriff’s Division workers died by suicide this yr, stated Nicole Nishida, an company spokesperson.