Sergeant A of Incheon Police Agency "I also wanted to live"
3 of 5 suicide notes related to work
Claims of case downplaying and negligence
Bereaved families "Demand strict investigation"
Police begin internal probe... plan to verify facts with involved parties
A note left by Police Sergeant A (33) of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, who was found dead in a flower bed at an apartment complex in Siheung-si, Gyeonggi Province, at around 8:45 a.m. on the 16th. / Photo by family members
[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] "I can no longer stay in this organization. I just want it to end."
The suicide note left by Sergeant A (33) of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency, who ended his life by an extreme choice, contained the complex feelings he had never been able to share with anyone while working as a police officer.
On the 22nd, Asia Economy confirmed that the note consisted of five pages. Three pages mostly contained grievances toward his teammates and complaints about the difficult situations he had endured. One page dealt with family matters and things to be arranged, and the remaining one was his final words to his family. After leaving this note, he was found dead on the morning of the 16th at around 8:45 AM in a flower bed of an apartment in Siheung City, Gyeonggi Province.
Through the note, Sergeant A expressed the stress he experienced during his work process. He even mentioned the real names of his teammates. After transferring departments this year, he brought over cases he had handled in his previous team, but claimed that instead of helping, his teammates pressured him to just finish them carelessly. In his original department, Sergeant A had been investigating a case related to gold bar smuggling. However, he ended up shouldering the burden almost alone, and as the case grew bigger, he was tormented by an obsession that he would be held responsible if anything went wrong. The workload in the new team added to his burden. Although he confided in his family, the situation did not improve, and his bereaved family claims he was even diagnosed with depression.
The note also contained allegations that Sergeant A’s superior reduced the number of gold bars involved in the crime and urged him to report it roughly and close the case, thus downplaying the incident. Initially, the scale of the crime was large, and they were considering how to handle it, but it was treated as a "pointless case."
There were also mentions of negligence by teammates. Sergeant A wrote in the note that his teammates often did not work properly, reporting they were out on official business but instead went to play screen golf or attend to personal matters. He even mentioned that sometimes the approval process was delayed because some went to saunas while handling tasks related to arrest warrant applications. Some teammates reportedly bragged about being late every day or about closing the office and drinking during the COVID-19 situation.
While receiving treatment for depression, Sergeant A applied for sick leave. At that time, his 4-year-old son attended the workplace daycare, so even during his leave, Sergeant A frequently came and went from work. However, colleagues who happened to witness this criticized him, saying "Sergeant A is not working and just playing around." Furthermore, rumors spread that he took leave to prepare for a promotion exam, which caused him distress, according to his family.
The bereaved family of Sergeant A is demanding a thorough investigation and appropriate punishment for those involved if any wrongdoing is confirmed. They are also considering holding a press conference soon to announce their position.
The police have launched an internal investigation into the individuals mentioned in the note and are verifying the facts. Once the facts are confirmed, they plan to summon and question those mentioned in order. They will also verify the allegations of case downplaying and work negligence stated in the note. Previously, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency stated that "Sergeant A generally got along well with other employees, and there was no evidence of workplace bullying or ostracism."
About 20 police officers take their own lives each year. Last year, 24 officers died by suicide, and this year, 16 had done so by August. The number of police officers suffering from depression surpassed 1,000 (1,091) in 2019. Each year, 30 to 40 officers report post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and last year alone, 214 officers received psychiatric counseling.
※ If you or someone around you is struggling with difficult feelings such as depression, you can receive 24-hour professional counseling at the Suicide Prevention Hotline ☎1393, Mental Health Counseling ☎1577-0199, Hope Phone ☎129, Lifeline ☎1588-9191, or Youth Phone ☎1388.
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