COPS 2022 – present
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Brent Simpson
Gender : Male
Age :
Race : Unknown
Date : 07/01/2024
Location : Steele Creek Road near Charlotte Douglas International Airport
City : Charlotte
County : Mecklenburg
State : North Carolina
Agency : Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
Cause of Death : Suicide
Event : Officer suicide
OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :
On July 1, 2024, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police K-9 officer Brent Simpson died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound while on duty near Steele Creek Road in Charlotte. In 2025, medical examiners confirmed he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), making him the first publicly known law enforcement officer diagnosed with the disease. Prior to his death, Simpson had repeatedly expressed that “something is wrong with my brain,” as his behavior and mental health declined.
SOURCE LINKS :
https://www.police1.com/officer-down/something-is-wrong-with-my-brain-n-c-officer-who-died-by-suicide-confirmed-to-have-suffered-from-cte
https://www.police1.com/officer-down/n-c-officer-dies-by-suicide-while-on-duty
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2024/07/01/steele-creek-police-shooting
https://www.carolinajournal.com/police-suicides-are-a-growing-crisis-across-the-country-including-nc
