Chicago police officer found dead in home ruled suicide

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The cause of death of a Chicago police officer who was found dead in a home Friday has been ruled a suicide, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

The officer has been identified as 42-year-old Durand Lee,. the medical examiner released Friday afternoon.

The 5th District officer was found dead inside his residence in the 1st District, Chicago police spokesman Tom Ahern said.

RELATED: Chicago police officer in grave condition after attempted suicide day after another takes own life

Suicide among police officers has been prevalent in the Chicago Police Department recently after two officers died and a third is in grave condition.

"Please keep this Officer's family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time," Ahern said.

There was a procession from the home to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office Friday morning.

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Further details were not immediately available.

More than a dozen suicides have been reported in the CPD since 2018. A 2017 Justice Department report found CPD's suicide rate was 60% higher than the nationwide average for officers.

RELATED: Suicide prevention: New 988 hotline is the 911 for mental health emergencies

If you feel suicidal or you're worried about someone you know, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. You can also text the Crisis Text Line by messaging TALK to 741741.

For more information, visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Seven call centers around Illinois have been contracted to help individuals in crisis or their loved ones get help locally.

The Sun-Times Media report contributed to this post.

The video featured is from a previous report.