The Tallahassee Police Department community is reeling after an officer’s death.
Officer Tyrese Coleman, who just joined the police force at the beginning of the year, died Nov. 20 by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“Our hearts are broken,” said Chief Lawrence Revell. “Officer Coleman was a valued member of our TPD family, and his loss is felt deeply across our department. We ask the community to keep his family, friends, and the men and women of the Tallahassee Police Department in their thoughts and prayers during this time of tremendous grief.”
A growing mental health crisis in Tallahassee
The latest tragic death comes as the capital city grapples with a spike of suicides and an ongoing mental health crisis. Just weeks before Coleman’s death, a Florida State University student also took his own life, and the university said it’s mental health resources have seen a substantial increase in demand after the April 17 mass shooting.
In August, the state capital recorded three separate suicides, with two the same day and one inside the Capital City Country Club.
By July 29, TPD responded to 21 suicides, according to police data. There were 24 total suicides for the entirety of 2024, as previously reported by USA TODAY NETWORK- Florida.
Phones in 211 Big Bend’s crisis hotline headquarters, which serve eight counties, also have received 100 more calls from people in a mental health crisis between Oct. 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, compared to the same timeframe from last year.
TPD supports its officers in a ‘demanding profession’
For years, TPD has focused on the mental health of its officers. TPD said its wellness program takes a “holistic approach to supporting” officers and their families by focusing on mental health, physical well-being, family support, spiritual care and financial stability.
TPD Behavioral Wellness Coordinator Sara Newhouse said she provides support for TPD’s personnel after critical incidents in addition to ongoing training and wellness education: “Through initiatives like peer support and integrated wellness touchpoints during academy and field training, we work to ensure our members have the resources they need to thrive in this demanding profession.”
“Our department is coming together to support one another, and resources are being made available to every member of our TPD family,” TPD said in a social media post. “We ask the community to uplift Officer Coleman’s family and extend grace and compassion as we all navigate the days ahead.”
The news was gutting to Sean Wyman, a fellow officer who’s trained to help his peers through mental health crises.
Wyman was recognized by then Attorney General Ashley Moody in 2020 with the Back the Blue Award for his dedicated efforts to support mental health for first responders. Wyman, who in his spare time co-author the book “Going Beyond the Call: Mental Health Fitness for Public Safety Professionals.” Moody said Wyman “noticed the high suicide rate among first responders and wanted to equip public safety professionals with better training to handle the stress that comes with their careers.”
“Today was a day I prepared for, trained for, and did everything I could to try to prevent from happening,” Wyman wrote in a social media post. “Sadly, it still happened.”
If you or someone you know needs help
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, depression, or other mental health challenges, you’re not alone. Help is available — confidentially and free of charge. Whether you’re in crisis or simply need someone to talk to, there are trained professionals ready to listen and support you 24/7.
Local government watchdog reporter Elena Barrera can be reached at ebarrera@tallahassee.com. Follow her on X: @elenabarreraaa.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: ‘Hearts broken’: TPD community mourns loss of officer
Reporting by Elena Barrera, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
