On a Friday in Nyack, New York, Matthew Keene, a 38-year-old Caucasian male, did not report for his shift as an FDNY EMS Lieutenant at Station 17 in the Bronx. This absence was uncharacteristic for the nine-year veteran of the department. A wellness check was conducted at his home, where he was discovered deceased on June 19, 2020.
The cause of his death was determined to be suicide. Those who knew him expressed that he had been under a significant amount of stress.
Officials from the Uniformed EMS Officers Union suggested that the immense pressure and trauma experienced by first responders during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic may have been a contributing factor, speculating that he may have been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. His passing was a somber moment for the FDNY, highlighting the silent struggles that many in his profession face.
