LEOs also have a second, very attractive means of suicide. When an officer dies in the line of duty, the family receives significant financial compensation. It is a hero's death and the fallen officer is given highest honors. This can be a tempting way out for an officer. The clinician must be aware of such alternative methods of suicide as suicide by suspect.
Alcohol abuse is an ongoing problem among the LE population.
Although LEOs have greater solidarity than most other populations, this solidarity may not lend itself to sharing emotional or psychological concerns with peers. Social support may appear plentiful but be actually non-existent. Police internal investigations are lengthy and can cause extreme anxiety. The threat of termination is very powerful because law enforcement is not something most LEOs do for a living. Dealing with LE personnel in a clinical setting requires that the clinician have significant understanding of the world of law enforcement.