Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Prosecutors Nervous About Officers' Mental Health In Wake Of Cop Suicide Attempt
By
Ben Yakas
Published Sep 16, 2011
Modified Sep 16, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Sep 16, 2011
Modified Sep 16, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
This week, a veteran NYPD officer distraught over being called to testify in the ticket-fixing scandal which has engulfed the police force attempted (but failed) to commit suicide. Officer Robert McGee, who is currently at North Central Bronx Hospital because of burns from clutching the third rail, is telling friends that he's "ashamed of this whole thing." One source close to McGee told the News, "He said it was a spur-of-the-moment decision. He's 62, with 30 years [on the job] and an unblemished record, and to go out like this is not the way to retire. You want to retire the way you came in, with pride."
Despite facing no criminal charges himself, McGee, a union delegate assigned to the 43rd Precinct, was distraught over having to testify against fellow officers who fixed tickets for family, friends or profit. A Bronx police source said that other cops have become despondent and depressed as the probe has dragged on for months and charged have built up: "The mental health of some of these guys has become an issue [for prosecutors]." Another source said that the overriding emotion was slightly more aggressive: "most guys are pissed...They're like, 'Indict me already and let the truth come out.'"
As of now, it's unclear whether prosecutors will still call McGee to testify on the stand if/when there's a trial: "It's tricky. They don't want to lose their witness, so they're going to have to handle this with kid gloves."
Tagged
cops
nypd
police
Probe
robert mcgee
Suicide attempt
third rail
ticket-fixing
ticket-fixing scandal
ticket-fixing scheme
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans. We could get used to this.
Seeing high hopes dashed had become so routine, it was part of our identity. This year feels different.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 17, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
Some regulars at the East Village park want to preserve its not-so-fancy offerings.
By
Willow Higgins
News
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
Some regulars at the East Village park want to preserve its not-so-fancy offerings.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
By
Samantha Max
Inside the plan to fix the nearly collapsed Pfizer Building, 1/64th of an inch at a time
By
David Brand
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .