The PPD Mourns

Obviously, police work is a stressful job. After years of witnessing robberies, rapes and homicides, a lot of officers have a hard time dealing with the pain. On top of that, the normal stress of everyday life takes its inevitable toll. Sometimes, officers rise above the turmoil.

Sometimes they do not.

This week, two Philadelphia police officers took their own lives. Officer Jim Denardo was attending yearly training on Tuesday. When his class was dismissed for lunch, the officer went to his vehicle, drew his service weapon, and shot himself. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Denardo was 38 years old.

Officer Thomas Hook was found dead in his home on Sunday of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Hook was 31 years old. He left a suicide note that stated in part, “Don’t mourn my death. Celebrate my life.” This tragedy is especially hard because Tom was very good friends with my partner, and I went to grade school and high school with his sister Mary.

Please keep both of their families in your prayers.