Chicago Police Officer Dies In Apparent Suicide: Police

CHICAGO, IL — A Chicago police officer has died in an apparent suicide, the Chicago Police Department confirmed to Patch on Saturday.

The Chicago Police Department did not provide any details about the officer's death, though it did release a statement.

"The officer's family is forever changed, and we ask that you please hold the officer’s loved ones in your thoughts and prayers as they begin to process this tragedy," the statement read. "Please also take a moment to pray for the officers of CPD, who are mourning this loss."

A post on the Chicago Police Pipe Band Facebook page indicated the deceased officer was a woman.

"All we can hope is that our sister found the peace she was looking for and is no longer suffering in the darkness she felt she couldn’t escape," the organization said in the post.

The Fraternal Order of Police Chicago Lodge No. 7 also offered its condolences in a Facebook post.

"Pray for her soul and those left behind," the post read. "The trauma of this job is not always visible."

At least five Chicago police officers have taken their own lives in the past 16 months. A 2017 report from the U.S. Department of Justice found CPD’s suicide rate to be 60 percent higher than the national average for police officers.

If you or someone you know is considering harming themselves, help is available. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 800-273-8255. Immediate help is also available in an emergency by dialing 911.