Some of the 17 deaths at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma this year are suspected to be caused by suicide, Military.com has learned, but service and base officials refused to disclose the exact number of suicides among personnel at the installation or the circumstances behind them.
Of the total deaths since Jan. 1, six are from unspecified causes. An Air Force official said some of those six are suspected suicides, but details on exactly how many remain unclear, as officials cite Pentagon and internal suicide prevention policies as justification for not releasing more information.
The other 11 deaths have been attributed to illnesses such as COVID-19 or natural causes, as well as accidents, Tinker Air Force Base said. That number includes civilian employees and government workers as well as Air Force and Navy service members at the installation, which has a population of about 30,000.
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“Eleven of the lost uniformed and civilian airmen died as a result of natural causes or accidents,” an emailed statement from Tinker Air Force Base said. “The six remaining losses are a result of other causes, some of which remain under investigation. Most of those lost were civilians.”
Last week, Military.com asked Tinker Air Force Base how many suicides there had been in the last year after receiving tips on the deaths. Officials didn't disclose…
