At least 150 Minneapolis Police Officers have begun the process of seeking 'duty disability' for post-traumatic stress under the Minnesota Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA), said an attorney representing the officers.
The attorney, Ron Meuser, who handles most disability claims for the Minneapolis Police Federation, told the FOX 9 Investigators 75 of those officers are under doctors’ orders not to return to work as they undergo treatment for symptoms consistent with PTSD.
“The symptoms didn’t just start six weeks ago,” said Meuser. “They’ve been dealing with symptoms for decades.”
But the stress and trauma reached a tipping point with the siege of the Third Police Precinct, he said. Fifty of the officers currently seeking disability, about one-third of the total, were present at the Third Precinct on Thursday, May 28.
“They did not feel they were going to come home,” said Meuser. Some officers were texting their families’ goodbye and others were saving a bullet in case they needed to take their own life, rather than being beaten to death, he said.
Meuser said since the killing of George Floyd, officers have felt abandoned by city and state politicians as well as the community at large.
“It’s an emotional beatdown on a daily basis for these guys,” he said.
Asked if those seeking disability are retaliating against the City of Minneapolis, Meuser denied that is the case.
“I’ve looked them in the eyes, not one of them is attempting to get out of working,” said Meuser. “Every one of them, to a man and woman, said, 'I never thought I would be leaving this way.'"
Meuser added that most of the officers seeking disability are veterans of the department with 16 to 23 years of expe... (Read more)
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