A 22-year-old rookie NYPD officer named Colin Rossiter reportedly took his own life at his home in Staten Island, just months after his involvement in the fatal shooting of a gunman.
His father, a retired NYPD sergeant, found him at about 1:50 am on Thursday with a gun next to him. Rossiter was appointed to the job in October 2021 and worked in the 60th Precinct, which includes Coney Island, Brighton Beach, West Brighton Beach, and Sea Gate.
His relatives, fellow officers, and other well-wishers gathered outside Staten Island University North Hospital on Thursday to pay their respects as Rossiter’s body was removed. He is the third NYPD officer to die by suicide in 2023.
In November 2022, Rossiter was one of several cops who shot dead Jermaine Hickson, 42, after he opened fire on police in Coney Island. The emotional scene included a salute to the officer.
Campaigners say there is a lack of mental health support for officers in New York and across America. The organization Blue H.E.L.P, which tracks cases of suicide among law enforcement and campaigns for better mental health support, reports that 18 officers have died by suicide across the U.S. so far in 2023.
In January, an NYPD police officer took his own life at an apartment building in Queens by leaping to his death in broad daylight. Steven Hernandez, a 30-year-old father-of-two, belonged to the 121th Precinct in Staten Island.
He just left an appointment with a psychiatrist, according to reports. Days later, an off-duty officer was found dead near Brookville Park, in Queens, after he shot himself.
And earlier this month, a New York City police officer shot himself in a locker room after less than a year on the job. The male officer, who was 22, was transferred to Jacobi Hospital in the Bronx in critical condition after the bullet hit his cheek.
Experts warn that police officers and first responders do not have enough mental health support. Blue H.E.L.P was founded by Karen Solomon and Jeffrey McGill to reduce mental health stigma through education, advocate for benefits for those suffering from post-traumatic stress, acknowledge the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers lost to suicide, assist officers in their search for healing, and to bring awareness to suicide and mental health issues. If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please call the National Suicide Hotline at 988.
»NYPD cop takes his life months after he was involved in the fatal shooting of a gunman«
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