Legislation advances to protect jobs of first responders with PTSD

Sean Lavin was a Mercer County sheriff’s officer who responded to Hurricane Katrina’s devastation of New Orleans in 2005. His memories of finding those who didn’t survive left him sleepless for 16 days and triggered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), he said. 

“Not one of us were OK with what we saw,” Lavin told lawmakers in Trenton on Jan. 27.

Still, he said, when Hurricane Sandy struck New Jersey in 2012, he reported for duty. Though he was apprehensive about reliving Katrina, he said, he didn’t tell others for fear that he would lose his job and the insurance he needed for psychiatric care.

The Assembly Public Safety Committee agreed that no first responder should have those worries. In a unanimous vote, they approved the bill, A2145, which would protect the jobs of paid first responders who have overcome PTSD. 

“It’s OK to have issues that you’re going through, but it’s not OK to do it in silence,” said Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, a Democrat from Mount Laurel.  Assemblyman Paul Kanitra, a Republican from Point Pleasant, said Lavin’s story gave the committee a perspective that is “incredibly powerful.”

The bill would disallow discrimination, harassment, firing and other negative action against employees who take leave for PTSD. Those who are cleared by a doctor or mental-health professional could return to their jobs. The bill has support from the State Troopers Fraternal Association, the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association, and the Professional Firefighters Association. 

“If this prevents just one first responder from taking their own life, then we’ve succeeded,” said Lavin, who retired as a sheriff’s officer and now is executive director of the New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police.

The New Jersey League of Municipalities opposed the bill. Another opponent, the Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund, cited concerns about lawsuits involving who could and couldn’t return to duty. Paul Bent, a lobbyist representing the fund, also questioned which physicians would have authority to authorize return-to-work clearances.

The bill must be considered by the full legislature and signed by the governor to become law.