Skip to main content

Chicago police officer with PTSD struggles to find treatment - Illinois

"In the end, psychologists concluded Warner, who joined the force in 1994, had post-traumatic stress disorder, and the department determined he was unfit for duty. In June he was approved for full disability, a rare case of a law enforcement officer being granted disability for mental health injuries suffered on the job....

"Warner's recovery was delayed, he contends, by the department not doing enough to help him recognize or treat how the shooting had affected him. Instead of embraced, he felt isolated and even punished for what had happened....

"Warner remained rattled by the shooting as months passed. He was drinking too much, having nightmares and was short-tempered. He felt unsteady on patrol and panicky in closed spaces....

"The city's doctor recommended Warner continue his treatment for PTSD and called him "unfit for duty."...

"The police department is still a macho profession. People don't want to admit that they have weaknesses."...

"Just because you hang a badge on someone's chest and put a gun on their hip, that doesn't prepare them for the awful things we see. We should have something in place to help them cope."

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-09-19/news/ct-met-ptsd-chicago-cop-20130920_1_chicago-avenue-salsa-and-guacamole-officers

Short on time? Use our Category Search page.

Attachments

Images (1)
  • ChicagoTribune

Add Comment

Comments (0)

Copyright © 2023, PACEsConnection. All rights reserved.
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×