[View the story "Videos in New Mexico and Idaho highlight 'suicide by cop' shootings" on Storify ]Videos in New Mexico and Idaho highlight 'suicide by cop' shootings Recent cases reveal one type of suicide that rarely gets reported. Storified by AJAMStream · Mon, Jan 20 2014 16:54:23
Those who study police homicides say that "suicide by cop" incidents do indeed occur, although they are not legally nor medically recognized. Dr. James Drylie, the executive director of Kean University's Department of Criminal Justice,
says "suicide by cop" accounts for about 10 percent of all justifiable police homicides.
Dr. Kris Mohandie, a police and forensic psychologist,
found that 36 percent of officer-involved shootings between 1998 and 2006 were "suicide by cop" incidents.
Albuquerque, New Mexico case
On Jan. 15, Albuquerque police released
a video showing officer Peter Romero shooting 64-year-old Robert Garcia on Nov. 15, 2013, in a case they label "suicide by cop." Garcia (pictured below) was armed while he was approached for a DWI traffic stop and ignored Romero's constant orders to drop his gun. Romero then shot Garcia in the abdomen.
Kob
After Garcia continued to search for his gun, Romero and another officer went to Garcia and soon discovered that Garcia's gun was a pellet gun. Local reports also said that Garcia had a "thank you officer" note in his wallet. His family told police that Garcia had been acting suicidal.
Nydailynews
Garcia survived the shooting, and was arraigned for aggravated assault last Friday.
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho case
Another
video released by Coeur d’Alene police on Jan. 16 revealed details about the Aug. 25, 2013, death of Eric Johnston, who was shot five times by officer Spencer Mortensen (pictured below). According to local reports, Johnston was suicidal when Mortensen arrived at the scene in response to a domestic violence incident at the apartment of Johnston's friend, Wendy Allenbaugh.
Krem
The video shows Officer Mortensen trying to convince Johnston to drop two knives he was holding before Mortensen fired his weapon, killing Johnston. Investigators concluded that Mortensen should not face criminal charges.
"There are two victims"
The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) lists "suicide by cop" as "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." AAS' latest fact sheet also states: "There are two victims of [suicide by cop]: the suicidal subject, and the firing officer."
Facts About Suicide by Copsubject engages in a consciously, life-threatening behavior to the degree that it compels a police officer to respond with deadly force1....
Those who follow "suicide by cop" cases concur:
Unfortunately, the officer who acts will soon have to defend him or herself in a court of law or in the court of public opinion. He or she will also face personal doubts over the incident. And of course, the officer's personal questions will soon be joined by many questions from the public and from the agency he or she works for. Everything from racial demographics, to the number of rounds fired, to the commands made will be Monday morning quarterbacked.policemag.com
What do you think of "suicide by cop" cases? Let us know in the comments below.
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