Suicide by Police
I had not heard that phrase before. Maybe I am just clueless or so out of it these days that the phrase zipped through my head and kept on moving. Last night, someone I know, a photographer for the TP, John McCusker basically went out of his way to have the police in Orleans Parish take him down.
You would think that the way things have gone around here, the cops would have not had an issue and would have finished the job for the guy but thankfully they finally corralled him by Taser after he had pinned one of the officers between the police cruiser and his own car and then took off again, driving down St Charles, running over any sign that might have been for a construction company.
Police quoted the photographer during the first attempt to stop him as saying “Just kill me, get it over with, kill me.”
John’s home in Lakeview was destroyed and he was under-insured. He is one of the thousands of people in New Orleans who’s financial life has been flipped and flopped to where he saw no way out. BK, I would have said he was a nut. AK, I feel for him and everyone who is experiencing the same effects from the storm and our loss. This is a man who is a quality human being, a professional of the kind that this city needs more of.
If someone like John can feel that there is no hope, no help for good quality citizens of this great state and country, then none of us are safe. Stay strong people and please talk to someone, anyone before giving up.
On another note, I feel the need to apologize for not posting for awhile. I have not been a happy camper for awhile now and just couldn’t get anything going in the noggin.
Is that the same John McCusker who was yearbook editor and photographer at Edna Karr back in the 70’s?
Man, that just fucking sucks.
Here are some numbers people can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, if they’re feeling suicidal or are just wanting to talk.
1-800-749-2673 (ViaLink–an organization that does telephone crisis intervention and resource referral)
1-800-437-0303 (The Phone, a similar hotline in Baton Rouge)
1-800-SUICIDE.
1-800-273-8255 (Louisiana Spirit Line–designated for hurricane survivors)
Its been around as long as there’s been
the concept of heaven and hell and taking your own life
forfeits your right into one or the other.
You know, they commited suicide so they’re not
allowed to be buried in the same ground as you.
Ain’t nothin’ new about suicide by police,
but now that your eyes are opened………
Laurie
I don’t understand the suicidal feeling, but I damn sure understand the desperation to a large degree.
But, on the other hand, I have learned to Just Let Go sometimes. I’d hope this man gets to the point where he’s happy with just getting another day to try to roll the rock up the hill. I’ve found it’s all I need.
If you’ve ever smelled death - you never forget it. It permiates your soul and stays in your head - and unfortunately I think forever.
This is a lucky man. He has a second chance. I know, I know..he lost everything. But I’m willing to bet he has people in his life who Love him. It’s never too late to make it right with the universe.
There are alot of folks in our area who feel lost right now and it breaks my heart.
Just do what you do. Live out your life and your rituals on your own terms.
As dark as it may seem for some of us - there is a light, if we is willing to walk towards it.
***and that light is hope***
I’m rolling that boulder up hill with Craig;
You guy’s wanna’ help?
I can’t promise you that it won’t roll back over ‘ya.
Some days you have to give up and take and
take a steamroller just to get to the next point.
Laurie
I sincerely hope that Mr McCusker gets the counseling he needs. He’s suffered and I hope that as drastic as this incident was, it might be the first step on his road to recovery.
And I am thankful that no law enforcement officer had to shoot him. I don’t care what anyone thinks, any law enforcement officer who has ever shot to kill has been affected by the experience. I have many relatives and friends in law enforcement and some of them were put in such a situation. For example, the chief of police of the small town I grew up in was forced into shooting a man who was shooting at him. The Chief killed the man. My mom and dad were close friends at the time and he came over a day or so later and broke down crying talking to them. My parents shooed me to my bedroom so I wouldn’t see and to give the man some privacy. It’s traumatic for an officer to have to shoot someone in the line of duty.
i went to the t.p. archives today and looked at some of his early katrina pics.
i think he needs to be talked about at rising tide.
if anybody figures out how to help this man i want in.
his pics kept me informed during my exile until i was able to get back into town and start rebuilding my life here.
I was just checking the cabinets and I appear to be fresh out of hope as well; so I can relate to the guy. Now, my situation just isn’t that bad, generally speaking, so there’s no need to go trying to hit the cosmic reset button just yet, but I can certainly see where circumstances could trick you into thinking that’s a good idea. Plus, I even manage to find humor in very bad things which seems to help - everyone should do a little more of that if they can - eh, it’s just life; at least try and have some fun no matter what happens.
Anyone ever read The Killing Joke?
“Madness is the emergency exit — you can just walk out on all the horrible things that happened and lock them away forever”
i suppose i’m out of touch with life (so what else is new?) these days.
But hope is the only thing i have to cling to. And yes, humor is always in my pocket as well. ;)
I have a friend here in Houston who is a former T-P reporter. She knows John and saw him just 6 weeks ago. At the time, she thought he was fine; seemed happy, smiled, chatted with her, etc.
She sent me this link today. It’s an article in Editor and Publisher about John. Very insightful. And so, so sad.
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002984627
Thanks for the article Kudzukid.
Dan-
You’re welcome. I grew up in New Orleans, and the Crescent City is very dear to my heart. I have many friends plus my father who live in NOLA, so I check on them and their stress/mental health all the time.
I live in Houston (family moved here in 1980). The mayor announced yesterday that we may have to increase our city council by two positions because of growing population…in particular, all the NOLA displaced residents who are still here.
New Orleans, the city and yourselves, deserve tender loving care these days.
Liz
I’ve come to the realization that suicide
isn’t a weakness but a choice.
Those that chose to leave due to heartbreak, loss of family,
or land were not weak; they couldn’t go on.
Those that worked their tail ends off and took off
from this earth were not weak to have stayed and
kicked butt as long as they did.
Those that can continue, we fight for them
and those to come later
maybe we’re fighting for the next generation?
Suicide as a weakness is a concept of man
it only exist in our head.
Laurie
Jack, Hope is in the bottom of Pandora’s Box-its always there!
Laurie
I know John too. In his line of work, a lot of people got to know him and know what a good guy he is, including a lot of police officers. So there are a lot of people who are very upset about John tonight, I think.
BTW, Carl, you wrote, “I sincerely hope that Mr McCusker gets the counseling he needs.” The NY Times article about this mentioned he had been seeing a therapist three times a week. It didn’t help. This whole city is going mad.
Tell John to come here and vent, keeps me sane.
Laurie
If you’d like to contribute to a fund for John, it’s:
http://www.friendsofthetimespicayune.com/
Make sure to specify your donation is for John McCusker.
Thank you.
Hope and humor are all that’s left for me right now. Thanks guys for the comments. I like what ya’ll do here.
Everything has a dormacy period.
New Orlean’s will see it’s Spring again.
Laurie
Hey guys,
I just thought of something-this’s important.
Have you considered that all the attention this’s gettin’
is directly in our favour of not completely losing it
as the anniversary sneaks up on us.
So, I’m going to thank John for what happened as decreasing
the amount of negative attention com’n up on us and may be
just maybe the media has been alerted to back the fuck off
we have enough problems.
Thanks for flipping out John the media took notice
hopefully you were the trump that makes them take a hard look
at the irresponsibility they’ve been gettin’ away with.
Laurie