I have recently had the opportunity to meet (virtually) the wives of several heroes... veterans of the ongoing war on our streets. Whether injured by a bomb blast, bullets to the head, neck or elsewhere, run over on the streets, or any number of catastrophic events, these men and women are no less veterans than the soldiers in our military. Many in fact served in our military before on our streets.
Yet, there is no VA or DAV, or other organization that helps these vets navigate life with disabilities. They are often cut off from medical insurance and have to fight their departments and local governments for even work comp assistance, let alone other benefits they are supposed to receive. Technicalities and loopholes are swiftly navigated by city attorneys with bigger budgets and resources to fight. Families are fighting their personal battles to survive each day, and rather than come along side of them, their agencies and localities seem to want them to just go away. They are treated as though they are thought of as a burden that nobody wants to, or knows how to, deal with.
There are many organizations that reach out to and support our disabled military vets... they are needed, and we owe a great debt to our disabled military vets. There are a number of organizations that reach out to the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty... these are also needed, and we owe a huge debt to those who gave their all. There is a mind boggling lack of support for our disabled law enforcement veterans. We also owe these heroes our thanks and support. They gave no less than veterans on foreign soil. They were active duty officers on our streets, trained to serve and protect. They are no less heroes and their lives (and the lives of their families) are no less broken by their injuries.
Recently I found out about new devices to help relieve pain and increase mobility when legs and ankles are severely injured by blasts or crushing injuries... these devices are only available to active duty military injured in the line of duty... not active duty law enforcement injured in the line of duty. Law enforcement are considered civilians in this case and not eligible for consideration. With injuries of the type that are often the result of combat... with the mindset and determination to go into situations that civilians run from, they are caught between civilian and enlisted, Injured law enforcement officers don't "fit" into either category.
This is but one small example. Officers and families are struggling all across the nation... spread apart and concerned with just doing life. They are the heroes who do not, or are not able to, push
for the treatment that they deserve. Many don't even stop to think that the way that they are being treated is absolutely wrong, or even feel that they deserve special treatment. Some are burdened by guilt because a partner or another officer didn't survive. Most humbly don't feel worthy of hero status, because they are soldiers who are wired to give their all for what they believe in.
This September Ladd and I will have the opportunity to meet disabled law enforcement veterans from around the nation... to personally thank them and their families for their sacrifice and dedication. We will also get to meet a group of active duty law enforcement officers who are reaching out to disabled officers in an attempt to begin to fill this gap. What an honor and privilege to be invited to be present among these heroes! Our deepest gratitude goes out to Hunting for Heroes. (www.huntingforheros.org)
Yet, there is no VA or DAV, or other organization that helps these vets navigate life with disabilities. They are often cut off from medical insurance and have to fight their departments and local governments for even work comp assistance, let alone other benefits they are supposed to receive. Technicalities and loopholes are swiftly navigated by city attorneys with bigger budgets and resources to fight. Families are fighting their personal battles to survive each day, and rather than come along side of them, their agencies and localities seem to want them to just go away. They are treated as though they are thought of as a burden that nobody wants to, or knows how to, deal with.
There are many organizations that reach out to and support our disabled military vets... they are needed, and we owe a great debt to our disabled military vets. There are a number of organizations that reach out to the families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty... these are also needed, and we owe a huge debt to those who gave their all. There is a mind boggling lack of support for our disabled law enforcement veterans. We also owe these heroes our thanks and support. They gave no less than veterans on foreign soil. They were active duty officers on our streets, trained to serve and protect. They are no less heroes and their lives (and the lives of their families) are no less broken by their injuries.
Recently I found out about new devices to help relieve pain and increase mobility when legs and ankles are severely injured by blasts or crushing injuries... these devices are only available to active duty military injured in the line of duty... not active duty law enforcement injured in the line of duty. Law enforcement are considered civilians in this case and not eligible for consideration. With injuries of the type that are often the result of combat... with the mindset and determination to go into situations that civilians run from, they are caught between civilian and enlisted, Injured law enforcement officers don't "fit" into either category.
This is but one small example. Officers and families are struggling all across the nation... spread apart and concerned with just doing life. They are the heroes who do not, or are not able to, push
for the treatment that they deserve. Many don't even stop to think that the way that they are being treated is absolutely wrong, or even feel that they deserve special treatment. Some are burdened by guilt because a partner or another officer didn't survive. Most humbly don't feel worthy of hero status, because they are soldiers who are wired to give their all for what they believe in.
This September Ladd and I will have the opportunity to meet disabled law enforcement veterans from around the nation... to personally thank them and their families for their sacrifice and dedication. We will also get to meet a group of active duty law enforcement officers who are reaching out to disabled officers in an attempt to begin to fill this gap. What an honor and privilege to be invited to be present among these heroes! Our deepest gratitude goes out to Hunting for Heroes. (www.huntingforheros.org)
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