What is suicide by cop?

• A. Incident is an encounter in which a suicidal person attempts to die by suicide by forcing a law enforcement officer to use lethal force
• B. A person escapes danger by running
• C. A hostage crisis resolved without injury
• D. A non-violent protest

Answer: (A)

Suicide by cop is when a person intends to die by suicide and creates a dangerous encounter with police with the aim of provoking lethal force from an officer. The crucial idea is that the person uses the officer and the officer’s weapon as the means to achieve death, rather than harming themselves directly. This is distinct from simply running away to escape danger, resolving a hostage crisis without injury through safe negotiation, or a non-violent protest—those scenarios do not involve a deliberate attempt to die via law enforcement’s use of lethal force. Understanding this helps responders focus on de-escalation, safety, and connecting the individual to mental health support to prevent harm.