‘Dedicated and decorated’ CPD officer dies by suicide
“I know the CPD community is mourning, and that grief is deep and long-lasting.’’
For the second time within a week, a veteran Chicago police officer has taken his own life.
Jeffrey T. Troglia, 38, died Friday after shooting himself inside his home in the city’s Mount Greenwood neighborhood on the Far Southwest Side, authorities said. He had about 15 years on the job and was assigned to a gang team.
“It is with a heavy heart that I share that we are conducting a death investigation into the tragic loss of an active Chicago Police Department member,” said Chicago police Superintendent David Brown in a statement.
“I know the CPD community is mourning, and that grief is deep and long-lasting. I know that it’s hard to take care of yourself and to reach out,” Brown said. “I also know that we need to do more to support each other — and we will.’’
The Cook County medical examiner’s office confirmed Troglia died by suicide, after a Saturday examination.
On Friday night, police officers gathered, standing in formation, as a procession for Troglia reached the medical examiner’s office on the Near West Side.
Troglia is the second Chicago police officer to take his own life within a week. He is also at least the 11th Chicago cop to die by suicide since 2018.
On Monday, Town Hall District Officer James Daly, 47, shot himself to death in a locker room inside the district’s police station, 850 W. Addison St., on the North Side. A 21-year Chicago police veteran, Daly worked the overnight shift and was expected to retire during the week, sources have said.
Daly’s and Troglia’s deaths come about seven months after a high-ranking Chicago police official, Dion Boyd, was found shot to death by suicide in his office in the Homan Square police facility on the West Side.
The Chicago Police Department’s problem with officer suicides was highlighted in a 2017 report by the U.S. Justice Department regarding the city’s policing practices. At that time, one Chicago police official told the Justice Department that CPD’s suicide rate was higher than the national average among police.
The Justice Department probe found that CPD’s Employee Assistance Program was overwhelmed, with just three counselors trying to provide services to the more than 12,000strong Police Department. Now, CPD has more than 10 such clinicians per a requirement of a federal mandated consent decree to improve the city’s policing practices.
— Chicago police Superintendent David Brown