Lawmakers Aim To Create Mental Health Office For Nassau Police

MINEOLA, NY — As NYPD officer suicides grip the state and nation, Nassau County lawmakers have introduced legislation to provide more mental health resources for police and corrections officers.

A police officer died in an apparent suicide at his Queens home last week just a day after an officer in the Bronx took his own life. Officer Robert Echeverria, a 25-year veteran of the NYPD, became the ninth NYPD suicide of the year.

This week, lawmakers joined members of the police benevolent association, detectives association, and sheriff's corrections officers benevolent association to announce legislation that would give officers greater access to mental health resources.

The legislation, to be heard at the Legislature's next meeting, would establish mental health and wellness office within the police and corrections departments. It would also establish a liaison between Nassau police and neighboring police departments, as well as a mental health action plan. The action plan, which would be reevaluated each year, would scrutinize policies and procedures related to mental health and provide an opportunity for additional resources.

Here are the other components of the bill:

• Create a smartphone app with various mental health resources
• Form peer support groups for police and corrections officers
• Provide in-service wellness training and resources for all police and corrections officers for at least one hour a year.

In announcing the legislation, Republican county Legislator Tom McKevitt acknowledged police and corrections officers work in a stressful and chaotic environment.

"My father was a police officer and detective in New York City, and I know how hard it can be to sometimes get past what goes on in this job," he said in a news release.

McKevitt called it "tragic" that the NYPD has lost nine of its own to suicide.

"This legislation will give officers the support system they need and provide other options and help when things get rough," he said. "It is the least we can do for people that put their lives on the line for us."