Holly MatkinPatrick County, VA – Danville Police Department (DPD) Officer Eric Goff II took his own life while off-duty at his home on Nov. 18.
“The Danville Police Department learned that Officer Eric Goff died unexpectedly at his residence in Patrick County yesterday evening,” his department said in a Facebook post the following day. “The members of the Danville Police Department are truly saddened by his passing.”
The 22-year-old officer joined the DPD on April 1, 2018, and graduated from the Piedmont Regional Criminal Justice Training Academy this past January.
He was assigned to the DPD’s patrol division.
“Eric distinguished himself as an officer and was recognized as the Danville Police Department’s July 2019 Officer of the Month,” the department’s post read. “He is best remembered by his friends and fellow officers as someone who was light-hearted and could make you laugh.”
Danville Police Chief Scott Booth said that Officer Goff was an important member of the department, and that he will be missed.
Danville Police Lt. Richard Chivvis said that the young officer’s suicide has served as an important reminder to take care of one another – especially in the wake of critical incidents, WSLS reported.
“Our chaplain explained it to us like this,” Lt. Chivvis explained. “Every one of us, every human being, we have an emotional bucket. Every encounter we have, that bucket starts to fill.”
“Taking time to heal is certainly part of your growth as a person or as an officer or an affected person,” said Danville Police Lt. Mike Wallace, who is also a member of the agency’s critical incident stress management team.
Officer Goff was laid to rest on Nov. 23, according to his obituary.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Danville Police Department Officer Eric Goff II, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.