The very nature of police work generates stress. Every year, more law enforcement officers die by suicide than in the line of duty. Conversely, in the “macho” culture of law enforcement, police officers loathe to show or admit they’re stressed because they feel it might signal a lack of masculine courage by fellow officers.

Entrapped by such foolish dogma, rather than openly seeking legitimate help, police officers often turn to alcohol or drugs, abuse loved ones, or take out their frustrations on some unlucky person they encounter in the line of duty. Eventually when all else fails, they may turn to the ultimate stress reducer, self-inflicted death.