Sgt. Paul Accardo, 36, N.O.P.D., commits suicide amid Katrina chaos

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Amid Katrina chaos, officer commits suicide

Tuesday, September 6, 2005; Posted: 12:16 p.m. EDT (16:16 GMT)

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/06/police.suicide.ap/index.html

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AP) -- Life wasn't supposed to end this way for Sgt. Paul Accardo: alone in chaos.

He wrote a note telling anyone who found him to contact a fellow officer. He was precise, and thoughtful, to the end. Then he stuck a gun into his mouth and killed himself.

Accardo, 36, was one of two city police officers who committed suicide last week as New Orleans descended into death and destruction after Hurricane Katrina swept through. He was found in an unmarked patrol car Saturday in a downtown parking lot. His funeral is planned for Wednesday.

Back when life was normal and structured, Accardo served as one of the police department's chief spokesmen. He reported murders, hostage situations and rapes in measured words, his bespectacled face benign and familiar on the nightly news.

[flamingyouth]

1. Yet another victim of this tragedy.

I felt so bad when I first heard this. :cry:

[Fenris]

2. I honestly don't think I would have been able to make it, either.

:cry:

[SaveAmerica]

3. W, this his what someone who is compassionate looks like:

"Defillo remembered how bad Accardo felt when he was unable to help women stranded on the interstate and pleading for water and food. One woman said her baby had not had water in three days.

He even wanted to stop and help the animals lost amid the ruin of New Orleans, Defillo said.

Unable to stop the madness and hurt, Accardo sank into depression."

[Obamarama]

4. This man didn't commit suicide. He was murdered by the Republicans.