Officer Down: Suicide and harassment in Ontario’s provincial police service - The Fifth Estate

Where to get help: Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 (Phone) | 45645 (Text) | www.crisisservicescanada.ca/ (Chat) In Quebec: Association québécoise de prévention du suicide: 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553) Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 (Phone), Live Chat counselling at www.kidshelpphone.ca/ Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre suicideprevention.ca/need-help/ ----- If you're worried someone you know may be at risk of suicide, you should talk to them about it, says the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention. Here are some warning signs: Suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, purposelessness, anxiety, feeling trapped, hopelessness and helplessness, withdrawal, anger, recklessness and mood changes.

As a retired OPP Officer your coverage of our organization was excellent. It's hard enough that you put your life on the line every day you go to work.Taking your life because you fear failure in a career you love to do is unacceptable.There are warning signs and this organization has consistently failed to address these issues, leaving grieving families with questions they can't answer because of their total incompetence .All these suicides and still no clear path to address this issue, how many more officers have to die before they get the message. Honesty and integrity two words that this organization lacks the meaning of.We are nothing more than badge numbers.There are other demoralizing factors that affect the lives of OPP officers, officers in the OPP from time to time have had their careers ended, basically are sacrificial lambs to protect the OPP from themselves, the OPPA Association a waste of an organization lacks the fortitude necessary to protect the interest of its members and their families against this culture of mismanagement and bullying, Professional Standards Branch made up of ego driven officers who lack the necessary investigative skills and are tasked to investigate an officer and determine if that person is fired or demoted having little regard as to how this investigation will affect the officers health, family or his livelihood. Each region is treated like a kingdom where the detachment commander is the king and rules his empire through intimidation, jealousy ,bullying and nepotism. You basically have a target on you back and considered the flavour of the week.AS OPP OFFICERS WE SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THIS PROVINCE . Promotions are given to the ass kissers and it's still a good old boys network. If you are a complete moron the force puts you in a relative meaningless position still making 100k a year. The real police officers and there are many who go to work every day and serve the people of this province with honour and dignity are the ones that when they request a change are told to wait their turn. To those officers that go to work every day putting their life on the line may God keep you and your families safe.

If this is how most cops are willing to treat one of their own, imagine what they'll put a civilian through..

He turns in his boss..for interfering and obstruction in a criminal investigation...thats when they go after you! Who polices THE POLICE when they're dirty?!

That system is so corrupt that a good cop doesn't have a hope in hell.

My husband was a police officer for 33 years..He fought the streets he worked grave yard he worked Detectives and was put in hospital 4 times..He drank too much at times but when he retired he never drank and he never smoked..He had me always to talk too..He fought against administration that pushed paperwork and were never real cops..His heart enlarged and blood pressure high and a bleeding ulcer and because of his heart not pumping right he was put on oxygen and yes his health came directly from his job.. They do push you from the top of the departments and he was active on the Union board that higher-ups do not like that..Yet he saved lives and cared about you and me and our son..We just lost him and he fought to the very end..He was strong and brave no matter what Department heads did He won and left me a large full retirement that he gave his time and health and finally his life for. I salute my husband the good man and cop.

This is so sad. I don't understand that kind of culture. .....so petty and unnecessary. The two 'spokespersons' at the end were so obviously trying to cover thier arses. Own up to the problems and find solutions, that simple .

That commissioner is in total denial.

It's a shame that showing signs of caring or compassion ,is a sign of weakness instead of being human.Makes you wonder why this profession has such a high divorce rate.

For as long as the OPP Commissioner does not acknowledge the link between occupational stress (including bullying and harrassment) and suicide, this problem will not be resolved.

I just love The Fifth Estate. Thank you for what you do!   SHAME SHAME on the O.P.P for not making all tools available for their PTSD officers., Instead of helping your own you HARRASS them by driving them to Suicede!!! I am appaulled!

Thank God for his Dog. He made the right choice. Don't abandon your Pets. They need you and love you.

The police commissioner is a typical mouthpiece

No doubt all Law Enforcement agents and First Responders have very difficult and high stress jobs. The fact that these 2 representatives of OPP don't seem to get that is disturbing. The care given needs to be proactive and probing and the LA Police seem to understand that. What a disgrace for the OPP to have been handed a potential tool to help their officers and to basically say, no thanks, no problem here. Great bit of reporting.

Supposedly honest police. They get rid of the ones that are actually honest. The cops that put on the tough guy acts are the ones that are insecure.

OPP NEEDED AND NEEDS A CLEANING OF HOUSE. .For many years now the question is when ...awesome program

It's bad enough when children act like bullies, but police officers? The harassment is real. These story's broke my heart. I'm glad these men are sharing, it isn't easy, and I wish them well. Sounds like the OPP treat these men and women as disposable commodities. They need to be deeply looked into, exposed, and some of the higher ups need to be fired. Shameful! Just more stalling from the talking heads, who can't defend themselves, because they know it's a problem, but refuse to acknowledge any culpability and still haven't implemented any real change.

The acting commissioner and head of wellness would probably be bully themselves if they had admitted that there's anything wrong with the force.

Keep up the good work. "The Fifth Estate" is one of my all time favorites! Thank you for the upload! Sencere regards from Kentucky 🇺🇸...💙✌😊

I genuinely feel sorry for the police officers and the detectives who are in their jobs for the right reasons. Bullying is everywhere in the world and in every single work place. Though these people who are in the positions of power and authority , and they are supposed to follow their own laws and rules. Yet these people are not going to follow the laws and the rules , as soon as the police officers who are moralistic report them, they themselves become a victim of the very institution that promises to serve, protect and follow the laws on behalf of the people. The rabbit hole is deep and dark.