I can't even imagine what this community is going through in Harris County, Texas, (Houston) where 4 former or current sheriff's deputies have all committed suicide in 6 weeks.
Between February 6 and March 19 of this year the 4 officers who had worked for Harris County were all discovered dead by suicide in a tremendous tidal wave of grief for the department and the community.
In the first incident, retired Deputy Long Nguyen died by apparent suicide on Feb. 6, ABC 13 reported, citing officials.
Deputy Christina Kohler, who had been missing for more than a week, was found dead by apparent suicide on March 13.
Three days later, former Deputy Maria Vasquez's body was discovered. The Houston Medical Examiner ruled that Vasquez, who retired from the agency in December, died by apparent suicide.
On March 19, retired Deputy William Bozeman also died by apparent suicide after 24 years at the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
Just absolutely tragic.
In response, the sheriff's office has launched mental health initiatives to try to address the epidemic of suicide in the department.
The president of the Harris County Deputies' Organization, Jose Lopez, said the deputies' deaths 'caught a lot of us by surprise.'
'One is too many. Two? Three? Yes, it's definitely devastating,' Lopez said.
So many people out there who we don't realize need help.
We need to make sure the Harris County Sheriff's Department feels our prayers.
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