Memphis falls short on PTSD

Memphis falls short on PTSD
City policy does not recognize officer's psychological injury 
By Amos Maki
Posted April 2, 2012

Memphis Police Department officer Gabriel Lawson was one of dozens of officers who responded to a disturbance at the DoubleTree Hotel Downtown on July 3, 2011. Once inside, Lawson and others found fellow officer Timothy Warren had been shot. While still under fire from his shooter, the officers pulled the fatally wounded Warren from the line of fire and stayed with him until paramedics arrived.

Alexander Haydel of Cleveland, Miss., has been indicted on two counts of first-degree murder in the shootings, accused of killing his wife's former husband at the hotel before shooting the officer. Shortly after the shootout, which also left Arthur Warren -- who is unrelated to the fallen officer -- dead, Lawson began displaying signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, including flashbacks, nightmares, emotional detachment and insomnia. Lawson took an extended leave and sought medical help. read more here