A 27-year-old Ventura police officer apparently committed suicide early Sunday while he was on duty, according to the police department.
The four-year veteran with the force was found about 3:20 a.m. in the yard behind a family member's house in east Ventura with a self-inflicted gun shot wound, Cmdr. Al Davis said.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy to determine the exact cause of death is scheduled for today, said James Baroni, Ventura County chief deputy medical examiner.
His name would not be released until after further investigation, Davis said.
The department lost communication with the officer about 1:30 a.m., sending officers on a hunt across the city for his patrol vehicle, Davis said.
He would not say whether the officer used a police weapon.
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office was investigating the death as a courtesy and to avoid any conflicts of interest, Davis said.
"We are a small department, and emotions run high," he added. "Everyone knows everybody here and it makes it hard to try to investigate something like this."
Davis said the officer's next of kin, as well as Ventura Police Department employees, have been notified of the officer's death.
Psychologists and a chap lain were at the police department Sunday to counsel employees, Davis said.
He added that he can't recall another suicide by an officer in the 29 years he has worked for the department.
The police department would not comment on whether the officer had a family or whether he appeared to be in distress before he took his life.
