Union applauds passage of 'State Trooper Mental Health Bill'

ALBANY | The New York State Troopers PBA has applauded state lawmakers for passing legislation that mandates the creation of a nation-leading State Police critical incident leave policy to help Troopers cope with the extreme stress and trauma these interactions can cause. The union urged Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the bill, which passed both the Assembly and Senate with near-unanimous support, into law as soon as possible. Sponsored by state Senator Jeremy Cooney and Assemblymember Patrick Burke, (S2681-B/A6452-B) would require a new State Police policy that establishes up to 20 days of paid leave to ensure that Troopers have sufficient time to process and recover from their direct involvement in a dangerous use of force incident that led to death or serious injury of another person. In addition, up to 15 days of paid leave would be available for Troopers who, while involved in a critical incident, were not the direct cause of the death or serious injury of another person. Provisions are also included to ensure that proper staffing levels are maintained when impacted Troopers are on leave, so public safety is not impacted. The availability of voluntary leave time would ensure Troopers are not put in a position in which they must deal with stigma or financial penalties for taking extended time off to fully recover from a critical incident and prepare to safely return to work. "Troopers by nature put others first, sometimes risking their own physical and mental well-being to ensure they fulfill their mission to keep all New Yorkers safe," said New York State Troopers PBA President Charles W. Murphy. "This legislation would ensure that in acting selflessly and bravely to protect others, Troopers are not forced to deal with the added stress of returning to work before they have had time to fully process the aftereffects of critical incidents. We applaud the Assembly and Senate for their swift action on this important bill and will work with the governor to ensure our members have the supports they need to give their all every single day." Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rates in law enforcement officers are reported as high as 19 percent, according to the National Institutes of Health, which is double that of the general population nationwide. And while about half of all American adults will experience at least one traumatic event in their lives, a 2023 research analysis published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found that members of law enforcement are exposed to an average of 178 traumatic incidents throughout their career. "Our New York State Troopers are dedicated public servants who work diligently to protect our communities," said State Senator Jeremy Cooney. "With this bill, we will be giving them the mental health support they deserve after experiencing horrific events, giving them the time to properly heal. I hope that this bill will become a national model for how we address mental health issues and support our law enforcement agencies." "This groundbreaking measure — where we truly prioritize the mental and emotional health of New York State Troopers involved in traumatic, critical incidents — will undoubtedly serve as a model for law enforcement agencies across the state and our nation," said Assemblymember Patrick B. Burke. "We need to provide better, more holistic care for police, firefighters, other first responders and veterans. It's the hard work and collaborative efforts of the Troopers PBA that led to this historic legislation. I want to recognize my counterpart, Senator Jeremy Cooney, for his efforts to guide this through the Senate. I strongly encourage the Governor to sign this measure and make it law." "First responders, by the nature of their work, are exposed to extreme stress that too often is under-addressed," said Glenn Liebman, CEO of the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS). "With Governor Hochul's signature, the critical incident leave policy established under this legislation will set a new standard for how police agencies should ensure those we call upon to protect the public under the most serious circumstances have a more supportive environment in which to recover from traumatic incidents." "The National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York State is thrilled to see critical incident leave for the State Police has passed," said James Norton, Government and Community Affairs Manager of the National Health Alliance for New York State (NAMI). "Members of the State Police, like everyone, deserve the ability to care for their mental health. Unfortunately, those in public safety often face traumatic events. The critical incident leave gives State Police Officers time to seek support, build resilience, and destress, before returning to work. NAMI NYS will continue to advocate for frontline wellness, eliminate stigma, and remove common barriers to those seeking support. We thank the Legislature for the work and urge the Governor to sign the bill." As outlined in the legislation, a critical incident policy for the New York State Police would set a nation-leading standard for how law enforcement agencies help officers address issues following traumatic incidents. Currently, only Kentucky and Texas have formally adopted standards regarding critical incidents, with few safeguards that ensure adequate leave is offered by individual departments that opt in. Lack of critical incident leave is one of several factors leading to the significant burnout that is forcing Troopers out of the profession earlier and at higher rates than ever before. Since 2006, New York has seen a 520% increase in annual Trooper retirements, from 49 in 2006 to 304 in 2024. Including investigators, 2024 retirements were even higher, hitting 470 in total. At the same time, the average retirement age and number of years of service at retirement both dropped to an average of 49 years old and 23 years of service over the past three years — the lowest in nearly two decades. Meanwhile, with only 176 recruits graduating with the most recent State Police Academy class and the state reducing the number of classes per year back to two, New York is approaching a point at which the losses of veteran Troopers will overwhelm the addition of new Troopers.

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Union applauds passage of 'State Trooper Mental Health Bill'

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