Being a police officer is not an easy job, and whether you are a full-time or part-time officer, you take the same risks with the same level of professional expectations.

Unfortunately, many of our part-time police officers are asked to protect and serve but must do so without health insurance benefits provided to them. This is an extreme injustice that can have devastating consequences for police officers across the state. Because neither health insurance, disability coverage, nor survivor benefits are guaranteed, many part-time police officers are forced to work multiple jobs in order to provide for themselves and their families, particularly in case of illness or injury. The demands of juggling two or three jobs, combined with the worry of having insufficient insurance coverage, can lead to unnecessary stress. In a worst-case scenario, undue stress can lead to accidents and impaired judgement on the job in their role as police officers.

I plan to introduce legislation to require all police officers in the Commonwealth to be provided health insurance, disability coverage, and survivor benefits regardless of how many hours they spend per week wearing the badge.

While some jurisdictions may require an alteration in their budget to accommodate this, I nevertheless strongly believe that it is the right thing to do. No police officer protecting our neighborhoods should have to fear the cost of their child needing an x-ray. I find it unacceptable that our budget constraints should shortchange our first responders. Public safety is a core purpose of local municipal government, and we simply cannot balance our budgets on the backs of those who are asked to risk their lives for us each day.

Please join me in supporting our women and men in law enforcement and ensuring that they will have these basic benefits.