CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officer who died by suicide in July may be the first known police officer in the United States to have suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, according to a new report.

Brent Simpson, a K-9 officer, took his own life on July 1, and his widow learned about his CTE diagnosis earlier this year, she told The New York Times. If confirmed, Simpson would be the first known police officer in the nation to suffer from the degenerative brain disease.

CTE is caused by repeated trauma to the brain and can cause memory problems and behavioral symptoms. The condition has been widely documented in professional athletes, particularly football players, but has rarely been diagnosed in law enforcement officers.

Following Simpson’s death, CMPD officers honored him with a memorial workout on July 4. Officers wore weighted vests similar to those Simpson wore on duty and completed a symbolic workout: seven rounds representing July, running one mile for the date, 24 push-ups for the year 2024, and incorporating his police code number 3776 with 37 sit-ups and 76 squats.

The department has not immediately responded to requests for comment about the CTE diagnosis.

Police officers face numerous occupational hazards that could contribute to brain trauma, including vehicle accidents, physical altercations and exposure to explosions or other incidents that could cause head injuries.

If you or a loved one are facing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, there is help readily available. You can call Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat with them online. There are also resources in North Carolina available here and in South Carolina available here.

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