Howard Liebengoods Life as a Police Officer

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Police officers present an indispensable part of any state governmental structure since they provide safety and security to the social structures that often are difficult to regulate otherwise. Since the police service implies prevention of criminal activity or the arrest of people violating the law, the work might be intense. Unfortunately, such conditions of continuous threat and tension lead to a high rate of suicides among police officers. For example, in 2019, 228 current or former officers died by suicide in the USA (Barr, 2020, para. 2). More specifically, Howard Liebengood, a police officer, committed suicide in 2021 (Klein & Tan, 2021). The details of his biography and premature death are discussed further in the essay.

Howard Liebengood served as a police officer at Capitol. Before this, he received the skills of a professional race car driver. Afterward, even after applying for the job of a police officer, he continued to take part in available races (Klein & Tan, 2021). Then, an inspiration for police work had been coming to Liebengood from his father, a late former Senate sergeant. From his childhood, Liebengood was the exemplary embodiment of correct behavior and a balanced person, as could be seen from the interview with his former friend (Klein & Tan, 2021). After becoming an officer, Liebengood worked honestly and was appreciated by his colleagues. He had a wife and children; often, he participated in activities that promoted security and law. For example, he took part in an event that celebrated the meaning of justice, where he demonstrated to children the various practices of the everyday life of an officer (Klein & Tan, 2021). Thus, Liebengood presented an ordinary person with hasteless life full of civic joys.

Unfortunately, the chain of events that slowly moved his existence from one point to another diminished in one day. Liebengood took his life; before his death, he worked at Capitol when the riot occurred and took the lives of civilians and one police officer (Klein & Tan, 2021). The reason for the riot was that right-wingers wanted to influence the results of the past election. Rebels entered the building of Capitol by force; to prevent it, multiple officers were on their post. Among the people who were there to secure the building, Liebengood served his part. He was at his work until the end of the protests; there are suggestions that Liebengood had struggled because of his schedule and intensity of work, which led to suicide. Namely, he worked three shifts in a row which might have been exhausting (Klein & Tan, 2021). Thus, the police officers life was interrupted by the influence of unfortunate conditions of the outer world.

Law enforcement is vital due to the fact that people cannot yet peacefully resolve their problems, and cases of criminal behavior are frequent. Yet, people that serve in police are in constant danger: not a direct one, but somewhat invincible pressure that depresses the officers. As such, the life of Liebengood ended up because of the lack of adequate conditions for work and a tense environment. It is suggested that the governmental structures of the USA should work on a solution to this problem so that to guarantee the mental health and well-being of people who serve as the nation protectors. Probably, research is needed for further enhancements of the work conditions of the officers.