CASE 1: Sgt. Robert D. Jones
Demographic
42-year-old White Male, Non-Hispanic, 70″ tall, 215 pounds at the time of death. Body Mass Index (BMI) 30.8 (Obese). Died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. (See Simulated Autopsy Report). The weapon located at the scene and near the victim was and determined to be used was Robert’s service-issued firearm, a .40 caliber Glock.
When Robert failed to report for work, another officer was sent by the house to conduct a welfare check. The officer was unable to make entry into the residence. He was able to contact Robert’s wife who said that he should have left for work already. Mary just assumed that he went to get a coffee or something and was just running late. Mary did note that Robert was just never late. In fact, she explained that he was often too early everywhere he went. When Mary returned home, she took a basket of laundry upstairs to put it away, and discovered Robert deceased in bed in full uniform and she called 911. A note was discovered in Robert’s shirt pocket. (The content of the note can be seen below).
Suicide Note
Mary, please forgive me. I never wanted to do this to you, but I didn’t see any other way. I love you more than you will ever know, but I just couldn’t handle the stress of leaving a job I loved and feeling like I was nothing anymore. I haven’t been sleeping well and I have been in pain for months. I didn’t want to burden you. My body is not young, and my mind is not sharp.
I hope you can someday forgive me. Please tell the kids I love them and hug Chloe and Katie for me. Grandpa is sure going to miss them.
Robert
Background
Robert was the eldest of five. He grew up in a lower/middle-class household. His father worked long hours at a local factory and his mother worked in the home until the children were out of grade school. She then went to work for a local grocery store in the deli. Robert’s father was extremely strict and held Robert accountable for things often out of his control. His father was demanding and too often not present. Robert was often expected to watch and care for his brothers and sisters while his parents worked. This meant that he had little time for himself or extra-curricular activities or sports. Robert grew resentful of his parents and even his siblings. He felt as though he mattered.
At 18 Robert started working at a local car dealership, by 20 he saved enough to move out on his own. He spent the next three years working at the dealership but wanted something more. A friend mentioned that he was going to apply at a local police agency, as they were hiring. Robert was intrigued and decided to apply as well. Within a year Robert was hired and in the full-time police academy. Robert graduated in the top 10 percent of his academy class and did extremely well in Field Training.
Robert met Mary at work, she was a fellow officer. They married within a year of meeting and have been married for over 18 years. Once Mary got pregnant with the third child, she decided to leave the force to care for her children. Robert and Mary had three children who at the time of Robert’s passing were grown. They also had two grandchildren. All three children lived within an hour drive and visited often.
At the time of his death, Robert was working as a day shift Patrol Sergeant. He had been with the same medium-sized agency for nearly two decades, located on the West Coast. Robert was well-respected, well-liked, and seemed to be a relatively laid-back guy. He was described by many as firm but fair. As of late, Robert seemed anxious and stressed. He was normally a fun-loving guy with a great sense of humor. However, in month preceding his death, he was all business and had even been reprimanded for an unprofessional outburst during a meeting.
Mary noted [He just wasn’t himself. He would come home from work late with a huge chip on his shoulder. I would try to talk with him, but that seemed to just upset him. I began feeling like I was walking on eggshells when he was around. Robert was never a big drinker, but I noticed he had started drinking every night. Sometimes, he drank so much that he would pass out in the chair in the living room. I hated to try to move him, because he would become combative. We really started to grow a part and our relationship was suffering.]
Mary said Robert recently began talking about retirement and what he might do in the future. She said he expressed concern about his ability to do anything other than police work.
Mary stated: [I explained to him that he could do anything he wanted. He was so intelligent and caught on to things very easily. I just wanted him to be happy and able to spend more quality time with our children and grandchildren. I mean he had given his life to this job. He was very good at it, but it was his time to enjoy the fruits of his labor.]
END OF SCENARIO
