2022-026 A Resolution Supporting Statewide Policies and Resources for Public Safety Mental and Physical Injury Education, Prevention, and TreatmentCITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 2022-026
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING STATEWIDE POLICIES AND RESOURCES FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY MENTAL AND PHYSICAL INJURY EDUCATION,
PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT
WHEREAS, the City of Hopkins recognizes the inherent dangers faced by peace officers and
firefighters in the line of duty; and
WHEREAS, the duties performed by public safety employees sometimes lead to physical and
mental injuries; and
WHEREAS, the number of public safety employees seeking duty disability determinations through
the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) and making workers' compensation claims
for line-of-duty injuries is accelerating at an unsustainable rate; and,
WHEREAS, every injury that leads to a PERA duty disability retirement and/or workers'
compensation claim impacts the employee, the employee's family and the employee's organization;
and,
WHEREAS, the current system for processing and addressing duty disability benefits can be
incompatible with the goal of restoring good health and returning employees to work; and,
WHEREAS, the fiscal impact of the increasing number of claims is unsustainable for employers
and, ultimately, taxpayers; and,
WHEREAS, public safety agencies, particularly those that are small and already experiencing
recruitment and retention challenges, will not remain viable if they continue to sustain
significant personnel losses; and,
WHEREAS, cities across Minnesota have invested resources into mental and physical injury
education, prevention and treatment; and
WHEREAS, experts, including those experienced with treating combat veterans, report that with
successful treatment, many injured public safety employees can achieve optimal outcomes of
restoring good health for themselves and their families and returning to work; and,
WHEREAS, cities cannot solve this challenge on their own and need the a state to help address the
policy and financial issues related to public safety duty disability trends.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS that
this council supports:
•Full state funding for the Public Safety Officer Benefit Account that reimburses employers
for providing continued health insurance to police officers and firefighters injured in the line
of duty and dependents of those killed(Minn. Stat. § 299A.465);
Funding to reimburse local governments for providing paid time off to public safety
employees who experience work-related trauma and/or are seeking treatment for a mental
injury;
Funding for initiatives and programs that provide peer support, emotional trauma training,
early intervention and mental health treatment;
Requiring public safety college programs to include mental health and specifically PTSD
education as part of their curriculum, focusing on prevention;
Funding for emotional trauma training for pre-service and in-service public safety officers;
and
Advancing wellness for public safety employees.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Hopkins hereby
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Hopkins this 5th day of April, 2022.
By: AP
i'- non, Mayor
ATTEST:
afi51,(A--cLei
Amy Domeier, City Clerk