This story is about suicide. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Chicago Police Department has lost two officers and a sergeant to suicide in recent months, authorities revealed Monday — amid what critics say is a tough environment for officers, and as police continue to cancel days off. “Each of their losses is a tragedy that affects a family, a department and the city of Chicago,” Superintendent David Brown said in a news briefing. “When someone is forced to live on fast food and caffeine, while living in this constant state of what we call hypervigilance, for 12, 13, 14 hours a day, it takes its toll,” said Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, a spokeswoman for the National Police Association, told Fox News Digital. “Look at these last three officers who killed themselves, these weren’t veteran officers, these were fairly young people — and that’s horrible.” CHICAGO ARRESTS Plunge To Historic Lows As Crime Rises, Police Admit They’re Failing: ‘No Way’ FILE: Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown holds press conference where he vows to step up measures to curb gun violence. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) He said Chicago is grappling with 60 percent more police suicides than the average law enforcement agency as morale plummets across the country. “You have a mayor who has a lot of contempt for her police department,” Brantner Smith said. “You have a boss who is a good man, but he is under his thumb [Mayor] Laurie Lightfoot. You have officers who are exhausted. Canceling days off and forced 12-hour shifts, it’s exhausting.” As police officers struggle with long hours and empty days, sleeping in their cars between shifts, studies have shown that fatigue is a major cause of physical and emotional problems, he added. In his update Monday, Brown said the summer vacation has been canceled “due to the need to make sure our officers are safe on the road” as the department grapples with chronic understaffing and roadblocks in hiring new officers. RELEASED FROM REHABILITATION, SALUTED BY THESE OFFICERS Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown addresses reporters about shooting. (Chicago Police Department) Summer holiday weekends — around Memorial Day, Labor Day, Father’s Day and Labor Day — “are historically the most violent weekends of the year” in Chicago, he said, adding that the city experiences historically high levels of police officers who are shot or shot. “Would you rather have less cops on the street or more cops on the street when that cop in that dark alley calls for help?” asked. Brown also said other superintendents have made the same decision about vacation time that was canceled three or four decades ago. CHICAGO POLICE AT LOWEST STAFFING IN RECENT HISTORY AS DEPARTMENT BREAKS FROM ‘GENERATION RESIGNATION’ The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police declined to comment Tuesday, a day after its president accused Brown of lying in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times. He said day-of cancellations have become increasingly common over the past three years. Brown appeared to admit at his press conference that the situation has worsened over the past two and a half years. “I would say it’s been the most difficult time in the last two and a half years to be a police officer in this country,” he said. “In our profession, we get the greatest reward because we get to help people every day – but we also take the greatest risk to serve and protect every day.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP “Everybody’s getting their days off — but not at the level they’re doing now,” Brantner Smith said. Brown also raised another factor in the wake of the suicides. He said the department needs to “do a better job making sure our officers know the services that are there for them.” But it can be hard to take advantage of them when you don’t have time for yourself or your family, Brantner Smith said. This story is about suicide. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Michael Ruiz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @mikerreports