Workers' Comp, Paid Leave on the Table for Newtown's Officers
Newtown's board of police commissioners and union representatives have asked for changes in state laws to allow benefits and much-need time off.
By Davis Dunavin
Newtown's police officers are seeking compromises and legislation that would provide them with the support they need due to their service during and after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings.
This includes leaves of absence that would allow at least six months off with at least two-thirds of their pay, according to the Hartford Courant, which reports that the town and the police union are in negotiations to make the change. In the existing system in place in the town of Newtown, police would only get ten days of sick leave before having to use vacation days to continue receiving pay.
Then there's the issue of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
"Currently town insurance does not recognize PTSD as a reason to go out on disability," said union president and Newtown police officer Scott Ruszczyk at a Tuesday Board of Police Commissioners meeting. "I want to thank the people working to get that changed."
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition stemming from exposure to traumatic events; symptoms can include intrusive memories or feeling "numb." 13 police officers have been affected, and at least six were among the responders at Sandy Hook Elementary School, according to the Courant.
read more here
Friday, January 11, 2013
Burn-pit registry for veterans signed into law
Burn-pit registry for veterans signed into law
Army Times
By Patricia Kime
Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jan 10, 2013
President Obama signed legislation Thursday requiring the Veterans Affairs Department to establish a registry for troops and veterans who lived and worked near open-air burn pits used to dispose waste in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere overseas.
In addition to including new requirements for providing a casket or urn for veterans with no known next of kin and establishing care for a military cemetery in the Philippines, the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans Benefits Improvement Act, S. 3202, aims to pinpoint the number of veterans who may have been exposed to burn-pit smoke so VA can track their medical histories and keep them apprised of new treatments for associated conditions.
Troops deployed in support of contingency operations and stationed at a location where an open burn pit was used will be eligible to register.
Veterans advocacy groups and families of service members who have become ill since their deployments hailed passage of the law as a “victory.”
read more here
Also
Obama signs Katie's Law, burn pit registry bills
Army Times
By Patricia Kime
Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Jan 10, 2013
President Obama signed legislation Thursday requiring the Veterans Affairs Department to establish a registry for troops and veterans who lived and worked near open-air burn pits used to dispose waste in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere overseas.
In addition to including new requirements for providing a casket or urn for veterans with no known next of kin and establishing care for a military cemetery in the Philippines, the Dignified Burial and Other Veterans Benefits Improvement Act, S. 3202, aims to pinpoint the number of veterans who may have been exposed to burn-pit smoke so VA can track their medical histories and keep them apprised of new treatments for associated conditions.
Troops deployed in support of contingency operations and stationed at a location where an open burn pit was used will be eligible to register.
Veterans advocacy groups and families of service members who have become ill since their deployments hailed passage of the law as a “victory.”
read more here
Also
Obama signs Katie's Law, burn pit registry bills
Gun charges dismissed against Fort Hood Staff Sergeant
Charges dismissed against Fort Hood staff sergeant
Posted: Thursday, January 10, 2013
Philip Jankowski
Herald staff writer
A Fort Hood soldier who was arrested and charged with a crime for bringing a concealed handgun into a local hospital had his charges dismissed.
Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Owen Sampson had a concealed handgun license when he brought his Springfield .45 into Metroplex Hospital’s emergency room March 30. State law prohibits concealed weapons from being brought to several places, such as convenience stores, bars and hospitals.
Through the legal wrangling that ultimately led to the dismissal of charges late Tuesday, Sampson and his attorney, Kurt Glass, maintained there was no notification on the doors of the hospital’s ER indicating weapons were prohibited when Sampson entered the hospital.
Glass said he took a picture of the doors in April and was prepared to show a blown-up photo projection of the doors at trial.
The doors have since had a sticker affixed to them indicating the illegality of bringing a weapon into the hospital, whether with a concealed handgun license or not.
read more here
Posted: Thursday, January 10, 2013
Philip Jankowski
Herald staff writer
A Fort Hood soldier who was arrested and charged with a crime for bringing a concealed handgun into a local hospital had his charges dismissed.
Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Owen Sampson had a concealed handgun license when he brought his Springfield .45 into Metroplex Hospital’s emergency room March 30. State law prohibits concealed weapons from being brought to several places, such as convenience stores, bars and hospitals.
Through the legal wrangling that ultimately led to the dismissal of charges late Tuesday, Sampson and his attorney, Kurt Glass, maintained there was no notification on the doors of the hospital’s ER indicating weapons were prohibited when Sampson entered the hospital.
Glass said he took a picture of the doors in April and was prepared to show a blown-up photo projection of the doors at trial.
The doors have since had a sticker affixed to them indicating the illegality of bringing a weapon into the hospital, whether with a concealed handgun license or not.
read more here
Fort Hood suicide numbers rise "experts" oblivious
Fort Hood suicide numbers rise "experts" oblivious
by Kathie Costos
Wounded Times Blog
January 11, 2013
There was a time many years ago when I played nice with others. That ended a long time ago when I said "screw political correctness" because these men and women are suffering needlessly. I went after politicians to the point where Democrats think I'm Republican and Republicans think I'm a Democrat. I care about the war fighters and not the war senders.
Suicide have gone up but too many are more interested in sucking up than sticking up for members of the military suffering for what should have been in place before they were even sent.
The suicides at Fort Hood scream about the lack of knowledge causing the suffering and suicides.
The head of Fort Hood's suicide prevention program is an Iraq veteran. Sounds like it should be a good fit but when you listen to what she had to say, it shows she is oblivious to what is happening all over the military. They love to point out that suicide is a global problem but never seem to point out these men and women managed to survive combat but cannot manage to live back home.
The report points out that 12 of the suicides happened on Fort Hood during 2012. Only 2 happened while deployed. Most do not allow themselves to feel the pain while their comrades are still in danger. They don't allow thoughts for themselves unless it is so deep, so painful, they cannot escape it even while deployed.
They point out the long list of issues everyone goes through but never seem to mention the fact that less than half of those needing help seek it. That means less than half are diagnosed with PTSD. Relationship problems come with PTSD but do they wonder if a relationship falls apart because of PTSD especially when it is so devastating they want to die? Communication problems? That again is tied to PTSD. Everything they list is part of PTSD. While it is true that civilians commit suicide they never mention the fact that most suicides are tied back to mental health crisis situations.
They will not fact the fact that the men and women serving in the military are like us in many ways but unlike us, the traumas they face are multiplied. When they are not facing bullets and bombs, they have to live with the threat of them everyday. For those not deployed, while they are training, they know they will someday be exposed to all the dangers and that in itself can cause PTSD.
Military Suicide Prevention has not worked in all these years. If it had, the numbers would have gone down instead of up. Resiliency Training does not work. If it had, the numbers would have gone down on suicides and up on those seeking treatment instead. All the bad numbers have proven year after year, what they are doing does not work.
None of this is new. They've been studying PTSD for 40 years. These war fighters are the same as every other generation but unlike every other generation, they have faced deployment after deployment with the fear of another deployment hanging over their heads. They wanted to join. They wanted to serve. All of them enlisted. Most never thought of doing anything else but instead of getting the help they need to heal so they can stay in, that all depends on who their commander is. Some get what they need and they are magnificent examples of what is possible and they happen to be Generals still serving and doing what they love.
The military needs to start by once and for all acknowledging the difference between those who serve in the military risking their lives on a daily basis for the rest of us and the rest of us. Their PTSD is much different than civilian PTSD just as law enforcement PTSD is different.
by Kathie Costos
Wounded Times Blog
January 11, 2013
There was a time many years ago when I played nice with others. That ended a long time ago when I said "screw political correctness" because these men and women are suffering needlessly. I went after politicians to the point where Democrats think I'm Republican and Republicans think I'm a Democrat. I care about the war fighters and not the war senders.
Suicide have gone up but too many are more interested in sucking up than sticking up for members of the military suffering for what should have been in place before they were even sent.
The suicides at Fort Hood scream about the lack of knowledge causing the suffering and suicides.
The head of Fort Hood's suicide prevention program is an Iraq veteran. Sounds like it should be a good fit but when you listen to what she had to say, it shows she is oblivious to what is happening all over the military. They love to point out that suicide is a global problem but never seem to point out these men and women managed to survive combat but cannot manage to live back home.
The report points out that 12 of the suicides happened on Fort Hood during 2012. Only 2 happened while deployed. Most do not allow themselves to feel the pain while their comrades are still in danger. They don't allow thoughts for themselves unless it is so deep, so painful, they cannot escape it even while deployed.
They point out the long list of issues everyone goes through but never seem to mention the fact that less than half of those needing help seek it. That means less than half are diagnosed with PTSD. Relationship problems come with PTSD but do they wonder if a relationship falls apart because of PTSD especially when it is so devastating they want to die? Communication problems? That again is tied to PTSD. Everything they list is part of PTSD. While it is true that civilians commit suicide they never mention the fact that most suicides are tied back to mental health crisis situations.
They will not fact the fact that the men and women serving in the military are like us in many ways but unlike us, the traumas they face are multiplied. When they are not facing bullets and bombs, they have to live with the threat of them everyday. For those not deployed, while they are training, they know they will someday be exposed to all the dangers and that in itself can cause PTSD.
Fort Hood suicide numbers rise
Colby Howell
KWKT News
Thursday, January 10, 2013
FORT HOOD, TX — Very few know what it’s like to be a soldier, but most know that it’s a very tough and stressful commitment.
Suicide is a global problem, but for men and women in the military, it’s a different kind of battle.
Sharon Sutton is head of Fort Hood's Suicide Prevention Program. But before that she served in Iraq. She understands first hand some of the stress servicemen and women face.
“Partner relational issues, communication issues, financial issues, Of course you have the issue of moving back and forth," said Sutton.
Ford Hood saw 19 possible suicides in 2012- 12 on base, two overseas and five cases still being looked at. That’s almost double the numbers from 2011.
read more here
Military Suicide Prevention has not worked in all these years. If it had, the numbers would have gone down instead of up. Resiliency Training does not work. If it had, the numbers would have gone down on suicides and up on those seeking treatment instead. All the bad numbers have proven year after year, what they are doing does not work.
None of this is new. They've been studying PTSD for 40 years. These war fighters are the same as every other generation but unlike every other generation, they have faced deployment after deployment with the fear of another deployment hanging over their heads. They wanted to join. They wanted to serve. All of them enlisted. Most never thought of doing anything else but instead of getting the help they need to heal so they can stay in, that all depends on who their commander is. Some get what they need and they are magnificent examples of what is possible and they happen to be Generals still serving and doing what they love.
The military needs to start by once and for all acknowledging the difference between those who serve in the military risking their lives on a daily basis for the rest of us and the rest of us. Their PTSD is much different than civilian PTSD just as law enforcement PTSD is different.
Veteran with PTSD still missing since Tuesday
Veteran with PTSD still missing since Tuesday
by Mayra Moreno
KENS 5
Posted on January 10, 2013
BEXAR COUNTY -- A woman fears her 55-year-old husband won't turn up alive if he's not found soon.
Thomas Leighton has been missing since early Tuesday morning. The Army veteran suffers from post traumatic stress disorder among other health issues. His wife of eight years worries that he has been without his medication for too long.
"He's never stayed away from me," Pam Leighton said. "I just feel in my head something bad has happened."
read more here
by Mayra Moreno
KENS 5
Posted on January 10, 2013
BEXAR COUNTY -- A woman fears her 55-year-old husband won't turn up alive if he's not found soon.
Thomas Leighton has been missing since early Tuesday morning. The Army veteran suffers from post traumatic stress disorder among other health issues. His wife of eight years worries that he has been without his medication for too long.
"He's never stayed away from me," Pam Leighton said. "I just feel in my head something bad has happened."
read more here
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