K 1576: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 26, 2026, as Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day in the State of New York

 Assembly Resolution No. 1576 BY: M. of A. Rules (Griffin) MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 26, 2026, as Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious mental health issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 26, 2026, as Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day; and WHEREAS, Created by Blue H.E.L.P in 2020, National Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day recognizes the service of officers lost to suicide, raises awareness about suicide in law enforcement, and reminds officers and their families they are not alone; help is available; and WHEREAS, Each year, more law enforcement officers die by suicide than are feloniously killed in the line of duty; this vital day of recognition strives to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help and recognize that one moment in time does not define a life; and WHEREAS, From 2016 to 2022, there were 1,287 public safety personnel, identified in the report as law enforcement and corrections officers, who died by suicide; and WHEREAS, The average number of suicides per year during the period studied was just shy of 184; in 2022, the most recent year data was collected, there were 183 suicides; further, 2019 saw the highest number with 234; and WHEREAS, More than half (51%) of the officer deaths by suicide involved officers from local police departments, with 20% from sheriff's offices and another 13% were corrections officers; the majority of suicides are from departments with 100 or more full-time sworn officers; and WHEREAS, These large agencies represent merely 10.8% of all law enforcement agencies and correctional facilities nationwide, but account for 61% of suicides among publish safety personnel; and WHEREAS, These findings regarding agency size and suicide are contrary to previous research that suggested that officers at smaller agencies may have an elevated suicide risk; the smallest agencies, which account for about 4% of the suicides included in the study, reported nine or fewer officer deaths by suicide; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of mental illness and suicide within the law enforcement community, and more must be done to increase activity at the local, State and national levels; and WHEREAS, Last year, this Legislative Body successfully worked together to implement a law enforcement peer support program to get mental health assistance from those who understand the nature of the profession; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim September 26, 2025, as Law Enforcement Suicide Awareness Day in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York.