In a twitter post, Garland Chief of Police Jeff Bryan revealed that one of his officers died by suicide.
"Yesterday morning (Dec 3), Lieutenant Chris Carker, a 16-year veteran of the Garland Police Department, and a personal friend took his own life. Chris was a leader, a mentor, and a provider to this police department. He served the citizens of Garland selflessly and with honor throughout his career. The men and women of the Garland Police Department are mourning the loss of Chris, as we try to comprehend and endure one of the most difficult chapters in our Department's history," read the post.
According to an article posted by Walden University, "Police officers report higher rates of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to the latest law enforcement statistics by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), police officers report much higher rates of depression, burnout, PTSD, and anxiety than the general population. In addition, almost 25% of police officers have experienced suicidal ideation at least once in their lifetime."
Chief Bryan also posted, "as law enforcement officers, whatever obstacles we face in our personal lives are amplified by the stress and pressure of being a first responder. Our men and women on the front lines are the people we turn to in times of crisis. But they are also the last to seek help for themselves, as it is so easy to become overwhelmed by the compounding stress of this job. The Garland Police Department will be honoring Chris Carker as a work-related death to the service he performed as a Garland Police Officer and Lieutenant."
