In the winter of 2018, a young woman named Rachel Bocatija, a 24-year-old female NYPD officer, was found deceased in her Brooklyn home. On February 26th, concern grew when Rachel, who lived with her family in the Bushwick neighborhood, was not answering her phone and her car was seen parked outside her residence. It was her younger sister who made the heartbreaking discovery, finding Rachel in a locked room within their home.
Her death was the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Rachel was remembered as a rookie officer, having proudly graduated from the police academy in 2016. Her family had been immensely proud of her accomplishment and her commitment to serving the city. In the time leading up to her death, it was reported that she had a disagreement with her father about her plans to move out of the family home. Her passing marked a tragic trend within the New York City Police Department, as she was the third officer to take their own life that year.
Due to the nature of her death, there were no arrests made and no suspects sought by law enforcement. The investigation concluded that Rachel Bocatija's death was a suicide. In the wake of this and other officer suicides, the NYPD's police commissioner at the time publicly addressed the issue of mental health within the force, highlighting the availability of support and resources for officers in distress. The department emphasized its commitment to providing mental health services and encouraging officers to seek help when needed. A wake was held for Rachel in Middle Village, followed by a funeral Mass in Woodside, where she was mourned by her family, friends, and fellow members of the NYPD.
