Police and Mental Health: Suicide Crisis Response & Interpersonal Dynamics

State your name for the record?

Casey Ellis.

What is your occupation?

Philadelphia Police Officer (5 years).

How long have you been a police officer?

Approximately 5 years.

What are your duties as an officer?

Respond to emergencies, including suicide calls.

What suicide-crisis training have you received?

Warning signs, de-escalation, risk assessment, restrict weapon access.

Do you apply that training on the job?

Yes, on mental-health/suicide calls.

About how many suicide-related calls have you handled?

Many over five years.

Have you successfully intervened with suicidal people?

Yes, saved several lives.

Can you give an example?

Talked a man off a bridge.

Has your training and experience given you specialized knowledge?

Yes—training + experience recognizing suicide crises.

Have you testified as an expert before?

Yes, in suicide investigations.

How do you know Harper Avery?

Met at Drexel CJ program 8 years ago.

Are you and Harper still close?

Yes; friends, discussed starting security business.

How would you describe Harper's temperament?

Responsible, disciplined, calm, hardworking, kind.

Have you known Harper to be violent?

No; only lost temper a couple times.

How would you describe Morgan's personality?

Impulsive, emotional, attention-seeking.

How did Morgan react when emotionally overwhelmed?

Withdrew, acted impulsively.

How did alcohol affect Morgan?

More impulsive, emotional, poor judgment.

Did you have concerns about Morgan before her death?

Yes.

What caused those concerns?

Relationship turmoil; loved Devin, thought she was pregnant.

Was Morgan in a serious relationship at 17?

Yes, with a musician.

How would you describe that relationship?

Emotionally intense.

How did the breakup affect Morgan?

Severe emotional crisis.

What did Morgan do after the breakup?

Stayed in room, wouldn't come out.

How did you learn something was wrong?

Mom called.

Was Morgan's bedroom door locked?

Yes.

Did Morgan eventually open the door?

Yes, after Casey talked to her.

What condition was Morgan in?

Weepy and groggy.

What did you notice in the room?

Empty pill bottle.

What did Morgan say?

"I want to die. Leave me alone."

Did Morgan receive medical treatment?

Yes, hospital; stomach pumped.

Did Morgan receive treatment for depression afterward?

No.

How did that incident affect your view of Morgan?

Showed extreme response to relationship loss.

Why is a prior self-harm incident significant?

Major suicide risk factor.

Who was Morgan involved with before Harper?

Devin Carter.

How would you describe Morgan's relationship with Devin?

Intense, unstable, chaotic.

What did you personally observe during that relationship?

Emotional turmoil from Devin/lifestyle.

How did Morgan change during that relationship?

More anxious, impulsive, distressed.

Did Morgan remain attached to Devin after dating Harper?

Yes.

Why did that concern you?

Same dangerous pattern as age 17.

How was the Devin relationship similar to the musician relationship?

Intense attachment, instability, impulsive reactions.

Did Morgan still love Devin before her death?

Yes; said so a week before death, thought pregnant.

Did you witness an incident involving Devin at a club?

Yes; woman slapped Devin.

Why was that incident important?

Showed relationship conflict.

Did you introduce Morgan and Harper?

Yes.

Why did you introduce them?

Harper was a stable influence.

What did you hope would come from the introduction?

Better relationship away from chaos.

How did Harper treat Morgan?

Caring; serious about future.

Did you ever see Harper threaten Morgan?

No.

Did you ever see Harper strike Morgan?

No.

Did you ever see Harper threaten Devin?

No.

Did you ever see Harper strike Devin?

No.

Did you talk with Harper about Morgan and Devin?

Yes.

What was Harper's attitude toward Devin?

Disliked Devin; didn't want harm.

Was Harper upset Morgan still loved Devin?

Yes, but still loved her.

Did Harper ever threaten Morgan or Devin?

Never.

Did you witness the restaurant chair incident?

Yes.

What happened during that incident?

Harper threw a chair.

Where was the chair thrown?

Across the room.

Was it thrown at Morgan?

No.

Did it hit Morgan?

No.

Was Morgan injured?

No.

What happened after the chair was thrown?

Restaurant asked us to leave.

Did Harper continue the confrontation physically?

No.

What factors do you consider in a suicidal crisis?

Prior self-harm, relationship crisis, loss, alcohol, firearm, isolation, impulsivity.

Is a relationship crisis an important factor?

Yes.

Is a sudden traumatic loss an important factor?

Yes.

Is prior self-harm significant?

Strong warning sign.

Are alcohol and firearm access relevant?

Yes, increase suicide risk.

Can multiple risk factors together increase concern?

Yes, much greater risk.

Which suicide risk factors were present here?

Prior attempt, Devin attachment, found him dead, gun, locked bathroom, isolation.

Are Morgan's circumstances consistent with a suicidal crisis?

Yes.

What is the basis for your opinion?

History + trauma + gun + isolation + impulsivity.

Is that opinion consistent with your prior experience?

Yes.

Why are you testifying today?

Morgan was my sister; Harper my friend; tell the truth.

Did anyone pressure you to testify?

No.

Are you testifying only because Harper is your friend?

No.

Did you love Morgan?

Yes.

Do you want the truth about Morgan's death to come out?

Yes.

Why did you agree to testify?

Morgan's history/actions matter; don't believe Harper committed these crimes.