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4 months ago in Law Enforcement , Public Health By Akash
Can we actually count how many suicides police prevent?
We track officer-involved shootings. Do we track the suicides that didn't happen because police got there in time?
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By Jasmin Answered 3 months ago
Direct counts are methodologically brutal—you can't observe a counterfactual. But researchers have tried. Studies of Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT) show reduced injuries and increased mental health referrals. Statistical models correlating intervention timing and location with suicide rate changes suggest significant prevention effects. We can't say "exactly 847 lives saved." But the evidence is clear: trained, rapid police response diverts individuals from lethal action to care. The absence of a precise number doesn't mean the effect isn't real.
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