First Ever National Consortium Dedicated to Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide
Alexandria, VA – On April 30, 2019, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) convened the National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide (the Consortium) in partnership with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention and the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). Derek K. Poarch, Executive Director and CEO of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, represented public safety telecommunicators in these critical efforts.
“We are pleased that the IACP asked APCO International to be a part of this critical endeavor and I am honored to represent APCO personally on the Consortium,” said Mr. Poarch.
Over the next 18 months, the Consortium will lead a groundbreaking national conversation around the issue of law enforcement suicide. Experts from law enforcement agencies and families, mental health and suicide prevention services, and academia will examine the full spectrum of law enforcement suicide. The Consortium will leverage its collective expertise to produce a comprehensive report with recommendations on consistent definitions and terminology relating to officer suicide; policy and procedure updates; research and data collection improvements; effective messaging strategies; and promising practices in prevention, intervention and postvention.
“We choose a career in law enforcement because we are driven by a calling to help others and to protect and serve our communities. We know when we take the oath that our job comes with certain risks; however, that does not mean we do not need adequate support for the emotional and physiological impact that can result from the job,” said IACP President Paul M. Cell.
To learn more about the National Consortium on Preventing Law Enforcement Suicide, please visit https://www.theiacp.org/resources/document/law-enforcement-suicide-prevention-and-awareness.
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders. With more than 30,000 members in over 150 countries, the IACP is a recognized leader in global policing. Since 1893, the association has been speaking out on behalf of law enforcement and advancing leadership and the professionalism in policing worldwide. The IACP is known for its commitment to shaping the future of the police profession. Through timely research programming and unparalleled training opportunities, the IACP is preparing current and emerging police leaders – and the agencies and communities they serve – to succeed in addressing the most pressing issues, threats and challenges of the day.
The National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention is the public-private partnership working to advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and make suicide prevention a national priority. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration provides funding to the EDC to operate and manage the Secretariat for the Action Alliance, which was launched in 2010.
BJA helps to make American communities safer by strengthening the nation’s criminal justice system: Its grants, training and technical assistance, and policy development services provide state, local and tribal governments with the cutting edge tools and best practices they need to reduce violent and drug-related crime, support law enforcement and combat victimization. BJA is a part of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs.
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