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soothsayer

(38,601 posts)
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 10:08 AM Feb 2021

This is what the Capitol riot did to police officer Jeffrey Smith: He "seemed in constant pain, un


?s=21

@hannah_natanson
·
Feb 12, 2021
This is what the Capitol riot did to police officer Jeffrey Smith:

He “seemed in constant pain, unable to turn his head. He did not leave the house, even to walk their dog. He refused to talk to other people or watch television.”

A week later, he shot himself in the head.





Hannah Natanson
@hannah_natanson
Read every word of this haunting @phscoop story, in which Smith’s wife shared her grief and frustration:

“If he didn’t go to work that day,” Erin Smith said of Jan. 6, “he would still be alive.”

Two officers who helped fight the Capitol mob died of suicide. Many more are hurting.
washingtonpost.com
https://t.co/q5daocPGXH?amp=1
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This is what the Capitol riot did to police officer Jeffrey Smith: He "seemed in constant pain, un (Original Post) soothsayer Feb 2021 OP
It is hard to realize how much they were betrayed dawg day Feb 2021 #1
Good lawd. demmiblue Feb 2021 #2
OMG. I feel for this man and his family. How horrible. liberalla Feb 2021 #3
Bravo for every word you posted here. Duppers Feb 2021 #14
K&R liberalla May 2021 #19
The gop doesn't care. Lunabell Feb 2021 #4
Wonder what would have happened if he had gone to the ER instead of a "police medical clinic." WhiskeyGrinder Feb 2021 #5
Yes, I wonder too... liberalla Feb 2021 #6
Reposting from another post on this bottomofthehill Feb 2021 #7
Congratulations on 3,000 posts. NT mahatmakanejeeves Feb 2021 #8
Thank you bottomofthehill Feb 2021 #9
Amen. Duppers Feb 2021 #15
I never ever want to hear how the Qpublicans back the blue UpInArms Feb 2021 #10
Blue Lives only matter when they're ending Black Lives. Nevilledog Feb 2021 #16
This officer was failed on so many levels, it makes me heartsick. I think of PTSD and veterans and niyad Feb 2021 #11
Accute PTSD? 2naSalit Feb 2021 #12
Looks that way to me. Perhaps a traumatic brain injury affecting Ilsa Feb 2021 #17
It's OK with Republican senators. gibraltar72 Feb 2021 #13
I had thought that going through something like this might leave a survivor - BobTheSubgenius Feb 2021 #18

liberalla

(9,165 posts)
3. OMG. I feel for this man and his family. How horrible.
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 10:11 AM
Feb 2021

He was failed at every level. I'm particularly upset his follow up care was so poor and negligent.

Duppers

(28,094 posts)
14. Bravo for every word you posted here.
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 12:28 PM
Feb 2021

His follow-up care was indeed extremely poor.

He needed to see a top neurologist so damn badly. And needed to have psychological counseling to deal with the obvious post-stress disorder that followed, as every wounded solider who barely escaped with their lives in battle needs.

Shame on the system for letting him down. And his wife could have better intervened to advocated for him. (That may sound harsh but I had to do that for my suicidal son once. It's the squeaky wheel rule.)

bottomofthehill

(8,261 posts)
7. Reposting from another post on this
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 10:16 AM
Feb 2021

2. A lot of people have questioned why these officers committed suicide
Many were questioning if they were “ involved” someone told me people don’t kill themselves on the way to work, others use terms like suicided. I am thankful that people are now realizing the horror the brave men and women faced on 1/6. This article shows the emotional turmoil the officers faced along with the physical violence. In the immediate aftermath I was asking people not to spread crazy theories as it makes us no bettter than the Q Crowd. We are better than that, unfortunately it does not always show

bottomofthehill

(8,261 posts)
9. Thank you
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 10:21 AM
Feb 2021

I did not realize I was that close. I don’t see my post count on the mobile version. Only took me close to 20 years to get here, although, I have been posting a little more lately.

UpInArms

(51,252 posts)
10. I never ever want to hear how the Qpublicans back the blue
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 10:28 AM
Feb 2021

Everything they say is a lie.

They all have blood on their hands.

niyad

(112,434 posts)
11. This officer was failed on so many levels, it makes me heartsick. I think of PTSD and veterans and
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 10:38 AM
Feb 2021

suicide. Sadly, I think there will be more amoung our officers and other first responders. And possibly others who were hunted and assaulted that terrible day. I pray that I am wrong.

Ilsa

(61,675 posts)
17. Looks that way to me. Perhaps a traumatic brain injury affecting
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 12:43 PM
Feb 2021

his frontal lobe, judgment, etc. I thought maybe the dr would have ordered a CT or MRI or something.

Terribly sad.

BobTheSubgenius

(11,535 posts)
18. I had thought that going through something like this might leave a survivor -
Fri Feb 12, 2021, 01:16 PM
Feb 2021

- especially one involved in fighting off the mob - would feel some elation of a sort, relief and maybe a feeling of power.

How could a medical professional not know that this man was not at all ready to go back to work? Did he hide his symptoms - both mental and physical - that well? This story leaves me perplexed, somewhat angry and more than a little sad.

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