Page 11 - November2018

ThirdVice President’s Report
Recognizing that PTSD is an IOD
When a member experiences a traumatic inci- dent, the lingering effects can last a lifetime. His- torically, police officers were expected to “accept” these incidents as “part of the job,” but times have changed. Our department has little issue when a member suffers a physical injury in the course of official duties but has yet to come to terms when a member suffers a psychological injury in doing the same.
Everyone is different, I know. Some officers seem to handle anything that is thrown at them and can move on without missing a beat, but others carry these situations with them well beyond their tour of duty. How many times have you heard the department say, “There is help available” (ie. peer support, professional counseling, EAP, etc.).
But when it comes to recognizing that day-to-day incidents have long-term effects on its members, there is a serious dis- connect. Too often, when a member has sought help for dealing with their issues, the department’s response upon their return to work is to send that member for a “Fitness for Duty Evaluation.” Hasn’t the member been through enough already? He or she has taken the forward step to seek help, only to be questioned by the same department that encourages the member to seek said help. The department will have to accept the fact that some
of our members may never fully recover from these incidents, and the responsibility to provide the necessary long-term care falls directly on the department. If a member has been given the okay from their primary care physician to work “limited duty” with restrictions, the department needs to find these members a place to come to work. They may need to look beyond the necessity for that member to qualify with their weapon, as this may be the very reason the member continues to suffer.
Another serious disconnect comes from the Pension Board. When a member applies for a disability pension due to a clin- ical diagnosis of PTSD directly relating to that member’s job, that member should be entitled to “Duty Disability Benefits” and not “Ordinary Disability.” One way to start this process is to have the department recognize that PTSD is in fact an IOD.
On Wednesday, Oct. 17, the Lodge offered free flu shots to its members, both active and retired. Just over 200 members took advantage of this free benefit. Special thanks to the staff at Knapp Medical Group, who ensured that no member was turned away. With the completion of the flu shots, this ends this year’s Health Fairs. As dates for 2019 become available, they will be listed in the magazine, as well as the website. Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!
JAY RYAN
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ NOVEMBER 2018 11