The official residence of the President of the Republic in Munkkiniemi, Helsinki. The police officer’s suicide occurred in November in the basement of the president’s temporary official residence. LEHTIKUVA
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Two Finnish police officers have died by suicide in high-security workplaces in recent months, including one at President Alexander Stubb’s official residence in Helsinki.
A police officer assigned to the president’s security detail took his own life in November at the presidential residence in Munkkiniemi while Stubb and his family were at home. The officer used a shotgun in the basement during his shift. Other security personnel found him dead, and the president was informed immediately.
In response, Stubb held a meeting at the Presidential Palace at the start of the following week to address the incident with staff. The Presidential Office confirmed that security measures remained intact at all times but declined to comment further.
Eastern Uusimaa Police are investigating the case as a routine cause-of-death inquiry, which is standard for suicides. Detective Inspector Josefiina Hiltunen stated that while the officer was employed by Helsinki Police, the case was transferred to Eastern Uusimaa Police due to jurisdictional procedures.
“The case is not related to the officer’s duties, and there is no suspicion of a crime,” Hiltunen said.
A second police officer died by suicide earlier this week at the Finnish National Police Board offices in Espoo. The officer, reportedly a senior official, used a service weapon at the facility in Otaniemi.
Western Uusimaa Police are handling the case. Detective Inspector Jyrki Kallio confirmed that police received a report of the death at 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 4 February, but said the incident likely occurred earlier.
The National Prosecution Authority has launched an initial inquiry into the storage of service weapons at the police headquarters. Chief Prosecutor Tapio Mäkinen stated that the review aims to determine whether police weapons were stored correctly.
“This is still a preliminary investigation. At this stage, no crime is suspected,” Mäkinen said.
The National Police Board declined to confirm details of the incidents, citing privacy laws. However, its HR Director Satu Koivu acknowledged that police suicides have been a concern in recent years.
Four police officers died by suicide in Finland last year. While some years see no cases, others have recorded one or two, Koivu said.
She added that reasons behind police suicides vary, including personal struggles, health issues, or work-related disciplinary measures.
“Every suicide is a human tragedy that affects not only the individual’s loved ones but also the workplace,” Koivu said. “We have multiple support measures in place for officers struggling with mental health or well-being.”
Police officers regularly encounter traumatic incidents in their line of work, which may contribute to mental health issues. Supervisors have a duty to monitor their subordinates’ well-being, Koivu emphasized.
“It is a matter of occupational safety to look out not only for oneself but also for colleagues,” she said.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
