Sergeant's documentary effort to stop police suicides

Metropolitan Police Department Sgt. Clarke Paris views an X-ray of his spine, where hardware was installed after he was struck by a drunken driver, one of a number of experiences he has faced while in the line of duty.jenna dosch/View

By AMANDA LLEWELLYN

VIEW STAFF WRITER

One police officer will take his or her life every day this year.

It was that frightening statistic that prompted Metropolitan Police Department Sgt. Clarke Paris to produce a documentary that he hopes will save the lives of fellow officers.

"The Pain Behind the Badge" is a film featuring the stories of three American police officers who battle the demons of depression and the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition that stems from witnessing traumatic events. Each of the officers had contemplated suicide, and two of the three had evolved elaborate plans to carry out their own deaths.

"It's a common condition among soldiers and cops," Paris said. "But, not many departments want the general public to know about the battle that cops wage with themselves. We're tough. We have to be. But, when you see things, the bad things people do to themselves and one another, it gets to you."

Personal friend Dr. William Rifley helped fund the production, and said that the goal is to get the film into the hands of the right people.

"It's not about making a return off of this," he said. "I'm not about that, neither is Clarke. But, I've seen what he's done here, and I think it could really change lives."

The stress of the job tends to pile up, and even when some officers believe that they are fine, the world could fall down around their shoulders in an instant, said Paris.

"It's those times, when you can't handle the things that you have witnessed, that it gets hard," Paris said. "Even more, for cops who have been involved with shootings or a fight where someone has been killed. Even if they were completely within the bounds of the law. Even if they had no choice. It gets to you."

Paris has had personal experiences in dealing with PTSD, one of which included being struck by a drunken driver, resulting in spinal surgery.

Paris said that most police officers won't seek counseling or other forms of help available because they're worried it will prevent promotions and give off the idea that they are weak.

"In many cases, they're afraid to seek help or they don't believe it will work," Paris said. "But, when you're breaking down for no reason, not sleeping, not eating, reliving the horrible things you've witnessed, something has to give. In their state, they see suicide as the only option."

Paris is marketing the film to every major network around, and has had a number of police departments across the nation talk about making the film a mandatory part of training.

"If this film can show officers that they're not alone, or help families diagnose a problem, that's all that I want," Paris said. "I want them to know help is out there."

For more information, visit www.thepainbehindthebadge.com or call 573-4263.