ASSOCIATE Magazine FBINAA Q2-2024

SAFEGUARDING THOSE WHO SERVE: EXAMINING POLICE OFFICER HEALTH AND WELLNESS WITHIN THE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION SYSTEM

RET. CAPTAIN DANE MATTOON, M.A., NA SESSION 272

I sustained on-duty injuries that neces sitated knee surgery and physical therapy for a torn Achilles tendon. In navigat ing the intricate workers' compensation process, I enlisted the expertise of a law firm specializing in such cases. Following my retirement from police work, I tran sitioned to a role at the same law firm, serving as a law enforcement liaison for public safety officers in need. Review ing hundreds of client files unveiled the complexity of workers' compensation, with many attempting to handle claims independently, only to face significant treatment delays and claim denials. Recognizing the critical need for profes sional representation, they turned to our firm to secure the rightful treatment they deserved. O ver the last decade and a half, the United States police profession has made commendable strides in acknowledg ing the pivotal role of health and wellness in ensuring the overall well-being of officers. Particularly noteworthy is the significant progress in destigmatizing mental health challenges, accompa nied by a dedicated allocation of resources and support to aid of ficers during challenging periods. Understanding that addressing an officer's post-traumatic stress not only improves their on-duty performance but also establishes a healthier work-life equilib rium is paramount for promoting overall well-being. However, despite these positive changes, a crucial aspect of police officer health and wellness remains conspicuously absent – education and training in the workers’ compensation pro

Our managing partner, a retired police lieutenant with two decades of experi ence, has been dedicated to represent ing workers' compensation clients for over eight years. In my current role as the Chief Operating Officer, our firm now advocates for around 600 police officers throughout Nevada, managing an exten sive workers' compensation caseload exceeding 2,200 claims. This topic holds paramount importance for officer health and wellness, an aspect often overlooked and riddled with mis conceptions across all ranks.

cess. Personally, the extent of workers’ compensation training I received was limited to "ensure the officer fills out the on-duty injury form and sends it to human resources." Little did I know that this initial injury form only marks the commencement of a convoluted, perplexing, and biased bureaucratic system that does not necessarily prioritize the injured worker's best inter ests. The challenges within the workers’ compensation system vary among states, leaving room for improvement in providing injured officers with peace of mind and ensuring maximum recovery and restoration. The inherent physical and mental risks associated with po lice and corrections work necessitate that officers may encoun continued on page 52

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