NBC6’s Roxanne Vargas sits down with a clinical psychiatrist to discuss alarming statistics regarding mental health in law enforcement.
The director of the Miami-Dade Police Department was in stable condition after suffering a self-inflected gunshot wound to the head, authorities said.
Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez, 52, reportedly shot himself Sunday on the side of the Interstate 75 highway near Tampa after a dispute with his wife.
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Ramirez was hospitalized and underwent surgery, and Miami-Dade Police said Monday night that he was in stable condition.
The shooting reflects the difficult job law enforcement undertakes and higher suicide rates among the profession.
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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2021 that law enforcement workers are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty.
Environmental stress from the job is the main culprit, the CDC says.
Mental health issues also run rampant among first responders, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more, the CDC reported.
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The U.S. House and Senate approved funding for the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Act in 2020, which aided the CDC in collecting data regarding first responder suicide deaths.
However, the CDC says that it is difficult to provide aid because mental health professionals may not be acquainted with the unique challenges of first responders.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass, whose agency is conducting a joint investigation of the incident with the Florida Highway Patrol, spoke about Ramirez during a brief news conference Monday.
"Law enforcement is a demanding and stressful career and occupation. Director Ramirez has dedicated nearly 30 years of his life to public service in keeping the citizens of Miami-Dade safe," Glass said. "Today is a tragic day in Florida, and the law enforcement community stands with Director Ramirez and his family during this difficult time as we pray for his full recovery."
