Governor Tony Evers has signed into law a bill written by a local Senator which aims at giving first responders PTSD coverage under worker’s compensation.
Senator Andre Jacque of De Pere coauthored the bipartisan measure and said that it stemmed from the increasing suicide rates for first responders suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In fact, those deaths now outpace on-duty deaths in the industry.
Jacque said in response to the passing of the bill, “This is a monumentally impactful and lifesaving first step among many that we need to take to address mental health.”
The measure was backed by a multitude of organizations, including the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association, the Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association, and the Badger State Sheriffs’ Association.
