Being a police officer, or a peace officer of any kind, is a scary job. They have to deal with stressful situations every day, sometimes stress beyond what most of us could handle or maybe even imagine. The kind of violence and tension they deal with on a day to day basis can lead to the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. This crippling condition leaves officers broken; emotionally, mentally and physically.
Here’s what’s surprising: The state of Colorado doesn’t have any plan for helping peace officers prevent and deal with PTSD, nor for giving them workmen’s compensation when they lose their jobs due to PTSD they developed in the line of duty. In fact, in many cases, law enforcement officers who develop PTSD on the job are simply thrown out on the street.
Your state representative Jonathan Singer was shocked to learn that. He set about fixing it. And he did. A bill he introduced in the last session of the legislature laid out a very specific plan for the state to address this glaring problem. The original bill, as authored by Singer, would have created a workers compensation package for officers who develop PTSD on the job and created a task force to study the issue.
Due in large part to his work on the bill, Jonathan was recently endorsed by the largest policing organization in the state: The Colorado Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police. In their endorsement letter, they said of Rep. Singer, “Jonathan’s understanding of serious health issues in the policing profession has earned him the respect of the men and women in Colorado law enforcement.”
I hope you’ll support Jonathan Singer in this November’s election, because it’s time we elect public servants who can protect our protectors.
Hannah Lynch
Longmont
