Two NYPD officers died by suicide in 24 hours. The commissioner has a message for America’s largest police force

Two members of the New York Police Department died by suicide within the course of 24 hours, Commissioner James O’Neill said Thursday.

In a note to members of the department, he encouraged individuals to seek help, if needed.

“We cannot hide from this incredibly important discussion,” O’Neill said in his note. “We must not pretend that these things don’t happen, or that such tragic deaths are somehow a fact of life. Importantly, we cannot sit idly by and just pray that they don’t happen again. We have to take action now. We have to discuss mental health.”

The NYPD is the largest police department in the United States, with approximately 36,000 officers and 19,000 civilian employees.

“This is about keeping our family healthy — and about saving lives. Your jobs require that you spend so much of your work day helping people in crisis. But, before you can take care of others, it’s imperative that you first take care of yourselves,” O’Neill added.

“Seeking help is never a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of great strength. Trained members will listen and connect you with even more help, around the clock. I implore you to seek out — or to help others find — the assistance that is so readily available to us all,” O’Neill wrote.