The silent struggle of law enforcement

MIAMI – The men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting our communities often face their own struggles, hidden behind their badges. For some, the stress and trauma of their profession can become overwhelming, with devastating consequences.

JC Prellezo, a retired Miami-Dade Police Department sergeant, knows this struggle. At one point, suicide seemed the only way out.

“The thought of suicide was definitely on my mind because I was out of options,” Prellezo said.

For three years he coped by becoming what he calls a “functioning alcoholic,” drinking himself to sleep every night.

“As a sergeant I was in control of everything, telling others what to do and handling situations. Still, I couldn’t stop putting a bottle to my lips,” he admitted.

Now retired, Prellezo hosts a podcast that focuses on mental health issues within the law enforcement community.

This year, the Broward Sheriff’s Office faced its own tragedy when a deputy died by suicide. The deputy was found next to his marked patrol car after shooting himself in the chest.

For officers like Danny Montano of the Hialeah Gardens Police Department, these incidents hit close to home. Montano was once on duty and wrote what he later realized was a suicide note.

“I was sitting in a park taking notes and looked down to realize it was a suicide note,” Montano recalled.

The stigma surrounding mental health in law enforcement remains a significant barrier to seeking help.

“We fear the consequences of opening up and being vulnerable,” said Danny Morales, a homicide detective with the Miami-Dade Police Department.

Determined to make a difference, Morales founded the nonprofit Bleeding Blue to support law enforcement families in need and those of fallen officers. Montano now serves on the organization’s board.

Bleeding Blue began after the loss of an officer, César Echeverri. Morales, who worked the case, saw firsthand the impact on the officer’s loved ones.

“We saw how much of an impact the family and colleagues had and we ended up raising money for them,” Morales explains.

Bleeding Blue has raised more than $180,000 to support families of first responders.

A recent report from the CNA Corporation and First Help found that more than 1,200 public safety personnel died by suicide between 2016 and 2022 – an average of 184 deaths per year.