Houston Police Officer Commits Suicide At Station

HOUSTON, TX — A sergeant in the Houston Police Department committed suicide on Friday morning in the Westside Patrol Station.

Art Avecedo, Houston's police chief, made the announcement. The sergeant was a 21-year veteran of the force, and was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at the station, which is located at 3203 South Dairy Ashford.

Acevedo said the sergeant was married and had two children, ages 10 and 12. His identity is being withheld until next of kin are made aware of his death.

The officer's body was found around 8:35 a.m. in the jail area of the station by his fellow officers, who were concerned when he failed to report for his shift.

Avecedo said that grief counseling services are being provided to co-workers and family members.

"We will be conducting what we call a psychological autopsy," he said. "We know that life brings us a lot of stress. We know that a lot of factors go into these incidents occurring and we owe it to the family and to one another to make sure we have a clear understanding of what led to this day.

"They will not take this journey alone," the chief continued, referring to the officer's survivors. "We will be with them every step of the way."

— Image: File photo (2015) of Art Acevedo/AP