Suicide by Proxy: Revisiting the Problem of Suicide by Cop

This article discusses the problem of suicide by cop, a colloquial term used to describe a suicidal incident whereby the suicidal subject engages in a consciously life-threatening behavior to the degree that it compels a police officer to respond with deadly force. Suicide is a global problem, a leading cause of death in the world, claiming about 30,000 lives in the United States each year, and approximately 1 million annually world-wide. For law enforcement personnel to engage in an intervention strategy to protect the innocent and to prevent suicide is an expected response to the 9-1-1 call. Officers do respond and, on occasion, are successful in their intervention strategy. This article identifies from the literature aspects of behavior that may allow the responding officers to identify and interpret the behavior to protect themselves as well as to implement a successful intervention strategy.