Suicides of two gendarmes in Lyon and Toulouse

Friday, January 8, the national gendarmerie deplored the death of two of its members, who died as a result of their suicide.

The gendarmes were found in the barracks, in their official accommodation, and had both used their service weapons to commit the irreparable.

Read also: Long claimed by the family, a new investigation into the suicide of a female gendarme in Lyon will be opened

In Lyon, the Chief Warrant Officer of the Juvenile Delinquency Prevention Brigade (BPDJ) Marie-Dominique Hoche, divorced and aged 53, committed suicide at the Delfosse barracks, leaving behind a child, reports in

the General Directorate of the National Gendarmerie.

A writing would have been found next to his remains, but "

", affirms a source close to the investigation, adding that the non-commissioned officer would have had "

" and was on sick leave during the tragedy.

In Toulouse, around 5 p.m. the same day, Major Patrick Auguet, assistant to the city's motorized platoon, aged 56, married and father of two children, also killed himself in his barracks.

He had been detached from the motorized platoon for health reasons and no longer served in the field, indicates the national gendarmerie in

.

His motivations are currently unclear.

He was due to retire at the end of the year.

Read also: A young gendarme commits suicide at his workplace in Colmar

Two investigations were opened.

With an average of 20 suicides per year, in 2020, the gendarmerie recorded only 10 suicides, the lowest figure since 2010.