讀後心得

A 26-year-old male police officer surnamed Zhou from the San Chong Police Sub-bureau in New Taipei City committed suicide at noon on the 23rd, shocking the police force. Before his death, Officer Zhou recorded a message on a hidden camera, stating that he felt overwhelmed by financial issues and chose to end his life. His family immediately traveled north to handle his affairs. Officer Zhou had worked in the police force for five years, performed well, had an outgoing personality, and maintained good relationships with colleagues, but still faced unknown pressures. Police investigations revealed that Officer Zhou had accumulated debts of around NT$200,000, and colleagues believed he should have been able to repay them, indicating that there might have been other hidden troubles.

A 26-year-old male police officer surnamed Zhou from the Houde Precinct of the New Taipei City San Chong Police Bureau suddenly asked a colleague to cover his shift before handing over at noon yesterday (23rd), and then went to the top of the station to commit suicide with his firearm, shocking the entire police community. The initial reason for his suicide was a mystery, until the police discovered that his body-worn camera contained footage of him self-recording before his death, revealing that he felt overwhelmed due to financial issues, ultimately choosing to end his life. The specific severity of the financial difficulties he faced is still awaiting further investigation by the police.

It is reported that Officer Zhou was originally from Yunlin, with parents and a younger sister at home. He graduated from the 36th Police Specialized Program and was initially assigned to Hualien. In 2022, he was transferred to the Houde Precinct in New Taipei City's San Chong Division. Officer Zhou had served in the police force for over five years, consistently performed well at work, had an outgoing personality, built friendships easily, and had a previous girlfriend, with whom he had since broken up. This sudden tragedy left his colleagues in disbelief. Upon receiving the news, Zhou's mother, sister, and aunt quickly traveled from Yunlin to the funeral home to bid him a final farewell.

The precinct stated that Officer Zhou was on duty from 10 am to 12 pm on the 23rd. After checking out his firearm, he asked a colleague to cover his shift at 11:52 am and immediately ran to the top of the station to commit the act. Initial investigations suggest that Officer Zhou may have been under significant pressure due to personal financial issues. The bureau promptly contacted Officer Zhou's family after the incident and will provide complete assistance for subsequent arrangements.

According to reports, Officer Zhou had activated his police body-worn camera to record his final thoughts, where he first expressed gratitude to his parents and apologized to them. He also thanked his superiors and colleagues, expressing appreciation for their support, and ultimately revealed that he chose this method to end everything due to his financial situation. It is rumored that Officer Zhou was in debt to the bank for around 200,000 NTD and suffered from back pain that led to insomnia, which compounded the pressure that ultimately pushed him to this extreme choice. However, his colleagues believe that as a grassroots police officer earning over 60,000 NTD monthly, he should have been capable of repaying these debts and suspect that there may have been other undisclosed pressures or debt issues.

Here, we remind you that bravely seeking help is not a sign of weakness, and there is always a way to find hope in life. If you need counseling or related assistance, please call the Lifeline at 1995, Teacher Zhang's service hotline at 1980, or the Ministry of Health and Welfare's assurance hotline at 1925.

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