My son allegedly committed suicide in February, 2006. However, two days after his death, it just "popped" into my head that the local police had found my son in the park in the dark!
The local police KNEW MY SON very well, and did not like each other. Although he was respectful to them, if he was harassed, he would show attitude. My son and I argued, which we did on a daily basis; that is how we communicated. He left our house @ 10:49PM. His brother saw him in the park, which is a block away, at 11:10PM, sitting calmly on a park bench. At 11:25PM, his brother did not see him in the park.
A man, who had recently transferred from CA. was walking in the park, without his glasses, came across what he thought was a jacket hanging off the swing. He went home to get his glasses and his truck, returned to the park, shone headlights on the object, realized it was a person, and hollered at him. He got no response so he called the complete phone number to the police dept. and not 911. I find that odd: Most folks do not know the police dept. number by rote, and especially new residents. Why would you investigate what you thought was a jacket? The write up in the paper said the call was made shortly after 5AM.
Another jogger: "I left my house at 5:15AM, headed west, turned the corner,cleared the house at the corner, and noticed lights in the park. When I got around to the other side of the park, I saw what I thought was my son, Justin, and sprinted home to check on him. I woke him and explained what I saw." Justin called Michael, my other son, at 6:24AM, and Michael came to tell me. Michael said that there was somebody hanging in the park ,and I knew immediately that it was Joshua. Hope against hope, I pleaded with Michael to run down there (which is a block away) and come right back to let me know. He didn't, but the local police did, and the reality hit me. EMS arrived, treated me for shock... I have an entire story, but my major question is: How do I know if this a suicide or murder?

So you think the cops killed your son?

First you need to get the medical examiner's report and have that examined by a pathologist that you hire. If the pathologist believes there are discrepancies in the report you will then have to pay to exhume the body and have your own autopsy performed.

You can also try contacting your local DA and seeing if they will investigate which might save you the costs.

Thank you for responding so quickly, however, it is not as easy as one might think. The medical examiner ruled the death a suicide. The police dept. will not give me information on which cop saw my son in the park at 1AM, the chief only says the M.E. ruled the death a suicide, therefore, no further investigation is necessary. Three of the officers that were on the scene, after it was called in, have resigned. I find that fact very interesting, and I'm curious as to why.

I didn't say it would be easy. I assumed the ME had ruled it a suicide. That's why you need to get your own pathologist to go over the report. You are entitled to a copy of that report, if the ME's office refuses to give it to you then you may need to take them to court. Again this is where hiring your own pathologist will help. That person can request the repoirt directly from the ME.

If the Police Chief won't answer your questions, then your alternatives are to go to the DA and/or the press.

The ball's in your court, I've told you what actions you need to take.

What makes you think there is a conspiracy to cover up the murder of your son?

Scott has given you direction on how to proceed with investigating the death if you truly feel your son's death was not a suicide.

Your questions strike me as grasping. Your grasping for something that would explain this tragedy. I'm sorry your son is gone. That is a terrible loss. You don't understand why he would do such a thing, and may even feel guilty about it for certain reasons.

Please don't torture yourself over it.
Follow up with sound investigation as Scott mentioned, and rule out that possibility.

What would be the police's motive for murdering your son?