NY must address the mental health crisis in law enforcement

Police officers are three times more likely to die by suicide than be killed in the line of duty. That’s not just a statistic — it’s a siren that cannot be ignored any longer.

The trauma police officers face isn’t theoretical. We witness death, violence, child abuse, and devastating accidents on a regular basis. We are trained to handle the chaos, but we are not immune to the emotional destruction it wreaks. Over time, that weight changes us. It chips away at our spirit. We isolate. We push away our families, the people we do this job to protect and support. We became officers to help people and provide for our loved ones. But along the way, the trauma takes that ability from us.

As a state-certified counselor who has worked in our department’s employee assistance office, I’ve sat across from officers fighting to hold on. Depression, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts aren’t rare in our line of work — they are heartbreakingly common. Tragically, many officers feel like they can’t ask for help.

Why? Because of the stigma.

“If I speak up, they’ll think I’m weak.”

“If I go to counseling, they’ll take my gun.”

“If I say I’m struggling, I’ll lose my job.”

That fear keeps too many officers silent — and silence is deadly.

That’s why I strongly support legislation by State Sen. James Skoufis and Assemb. Judy Griffin to establish a statewide peer-to-peer mental health support program for police officers. This bill would create a confidential, departmentally approved network of trained officers who can help their fellow officers deal with trauma, stress, grief, and anxiety. It would ensure those who serve have real access to someone who understands exactly what they’re going through — because they’ve been there, too.

This bill recognizes that many officers are far more comfortable opening up to another cop than to a civilian mental health provider. It builds trust. And it works.

It also respects confidentiality — a key ingredient to building real participation — while maintaining important guard-rails. Conversations remain private unless they involve a court order, credible threats of harm, criminal activity, or abuse. That balance protects both officers and the public.

The legislation honors Lt. Joseph Banish, a New York State Trooper who died by suicide. His brother, Jim Banish, has dedicated himself to advocating for mental health support in law enforcement. I’ve been proud to join him in this mission. We’ve spoken to officers, lawmakers, and families statewide, sharing a simple message: Help is not weakness. Silence is not strength. Change is possible.

More than 900 law enforcement personnel have been lost to suicide nationally since 2019, according to the nonprofit Blue H.E.L.P. — 106 in New York, including Nassau County. That’s too many. And every time, we ask ourselves: What more could we have done? This legislation is one of those answers.

“Backing the blue” means more than shaking hands or showing up to funerals. It means creating policies that keep officers healthy and safe before a tragedy happens. It means acknowledging that those in uniform are human — not superheroes, not robots. We carry trauma. We feel pain. And we deserve support.

To the governor and legislative leaders: Pass this bill. Now. It’s not about politics. It’s about people who put their lives on the line every day for New Yorkers. It’s about stopping the next suicide, saving the next life, supporting every officer who silently struggles to keep going.

We can’t wait any longer. We have lost too many already. Let’s act — for those we’ve lost, and for those still serving who need to know: You are not alone.

This guest essay reflects the views of Tommy Shevlin, president of the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association.