Illinois State Trooper Took His Own Life: Police

CHICAGO — State Trooper Gerald Mason, 35, died Friday afternoon from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

The shooting happened on the northbound Dan Ryan Expressway near 43rd Street on the city's South Side around 1:43 p.m., Illinois State Police spokesperson Josh Karando confirmed to Patch. Karando called the shooting "officer involved" and said the trooper was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center with "serious injuries."

The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to Patch Friday afternoon that the Mason had died.

ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly said Mason "was one of the many fearless Troopers assigned to ISP District Chicago."

"We are asking the public to respectfully give consideration to the family of Trooper Mason and the whole ISP family while we continue to grieve and work through this tragedy," he added.

According to the law enforcement mental health advocacy organization Blue H.E.L.P., 105 police officers have died by suicide so far this year. A study from the Ruderman Family Foundation found that police are more likely to take their own lives than die in the line of duty.

The same study found the suicide rate among police officers is about 30 percent higher than among the general population. Chicago’s police suicide rate was even worse — 60 percent higher than the national average, according to a U.S. Department of Justice report.

Earlier this year, after two Chicago officers took their lives within days, the department announced plans to hire an adviser on mental health. It's not clear if the state police have anything similar.

The shooting took place about a mile south of Guaranteed Rate Field, where the Chicago White Sox were scheduled to play a game Friday evening against the Detroit Tigers.

Just before 5 p.m. Friday, Mason's body was escorted with full honors from the University of Chicago Medical Center, flanked by squad cars from multiple nearby police departments.

Mason's mother, Linda Mason, told CBS Chicago that her son had wanted to be a police officer since he was a kid, saying, "I know he loves what he (does). It’s what he wanted. It’s his life. It hurts to lose him."

Anyone struggling with mental health can get help by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, visiting this website or by texting HOME to 741741.