"The ruling marks the first time in the records of Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department — and one of very few times across the country — that a suicide has been classified as a line-of-duty death."

"The moment may be a tipping point in a crusade to lift long-held taboos against open discussion of depression, addiction and suicide in policing, with several groups pushing for officers to have greater access to confidential counseling and other emotional supports."

From "Police Officer’s Suicide After Jan. 6 Riot Is Ruled a Line-of-Duty Death/'If he did not go to work that day, he would be here,' said the widow of Officer Jeffrey Smith of the Metropolitan Police" (NYT).