A San Jose police academy recruit died by suicide using a city-issued handgun in late September — quietly rattling the department and highlighting the risk of arming cadets. The unusual tragedy has also prompted questions about whether higher-ups missed any warning signs.
It’s unclear why the recruit decided to take their own life. But multiple sources in the San Jose Police Department told this news organization the recruit was dealing with difficult life circumstances and in a romantic relationship with a fellow recruit. San José Spotlight is not naming the recruit who died out of respect for the family’s privacy.
A department spokesperson declined to offer details about the incident, which happened Sept. 20, beyond confirming a recruit’s death in late September. The spokesperson said the department conducted a thorough investigation that found no evidence of wrongdoing or foul play.
“To respect the grieving family’s privacy, we did not and are not providing any further details. We lost a valued member of our police family and continue to mourn the loss,” the spokesperson told San José Spotlight.