Military veterans are afforded an enhanced status in law and greater provision of support in recognition of the trauma they may have suffered in conflicts as well as in recognition of the difficulty of leaving public service and adapting to life. We want police officers to be afforded the same.

Evidence suggests that more police officers are retiring with ill health or choosing to leave the service because of health impacts caused by policing, such as police assaults, feeling under constant threat, and often dealing with death and injury. They suffer 600-800 traumatic events in a lifetime when the general public may suffer between 4-8. More officers are reporting PTSD/CPTSD as well as physical issues that prevent them from doing their job. We believe adapting to private life is proving difficult and help is needed.