[projekktor id=’14219′]

Members of the Hamilton police service watched anxiously as their colleagues from Peel region cornered one of their own officers yesterday. He led them on a chase while in a mental health crisis. The standoff ended peacefully behind a Hamilton gas station.

Hamilton police weren’t part of the investigation yesterday, they only provided peripheral support. But the chief says the response wouldn’t have been any different if it had been a random member of the public who was threatening suicide. Still, knowing it was a police officer in crisis hits hard — particularly in Hamilton.

For hours, workers in Hamilton’s emergency call centre were on the edge of their seats, listening as peel police worked on preventing the suicide of one of their own. When the off-duty officer stood from his car and lifted his hands in surrender, the room erupted in clapping and cheers.

Hamilton police Chief Glenn De Caire says things have changed in Hamilton since last December, when popular Staff Sergeant Ian Matthews killed himself in the locker room at central station.

Hamilton police chief Glenn De Caire: “Officers are coming forward and we’re having more dialogue. That’s been our experience, particularly since December.”

He says the biggest concern is continuing the dialogue. there is still a stigma against mental illness, and some officers still believe seeking help could hurt their careers: “We get to see life sometimes when people’s behaviour is at its worst, and there’s a certain amount of pressure that comes with that.”

Hamilton police have struck a committee to look at officers’ mental health, but don’t expect a report until late fall. A recent judicial report is full of recommendations, like having officers report for regular mental health checkups. But the chief also has to consider financial costs: “We’re willing to look at anything that will better support our people. That’s what the committee is doing right now.”

Within the last few weeks there have been at least two Canadian police suicides; one a veteran Toronto officer who blamed his employer for his emotional turmoil, another a Winnipeg Mountie who responded to a beheading on a Greyhound bus in 2008.

Officers have a range of resources depending on the service they work for. Hamilton has a peer support program as well as access to counselling, and a wellness coordinator who deals with fitness, nutrition and fatigue. Things that have a big impact on shift workers like police.

Members of the Hamilton police service watched anxiously as their colleagues from Peel region cornered one of their own officers yesterday. He led them on a chase while in a mental health crisis yesterday. The standoff ended peacefully at a Hamilton gas station.