NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – An off-duty NYPD sergeant fatally shot himself at his Queens home Tuesday, according to officials, marking the 10th NYPD officer to die by suicide this year.
His wife found the 33-year-old officer -- later identified as Linhong Li -- at around 9:30 p.m., and he was pronounced dead within 30 minutes after he was rushed to Jamaica Hospital.
He joined the force in 2012 and was assigned to a Manhattan precinct.
Including retired officers, this is the 12th self-inflicted death in 2019.
The NYPD declared a mental health crisis earlier this year after four officers died by suicide in June.
In a letter to members, Sergeants Benevolent Association president Ed Mullins wrote, "Police suicides have become a mental health crisis of epic proportions ... The policing profession is at a critical juncture, and innovative action needs to be taken."
The previous NYPD suicide was of NYPD Officer Robert Echeverria of Laurelton, who died by suicide in August.