Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
January 7,2014
Everyone remember watching in horror as firefighters and police officers walked into the debris clouds of New York City that day. We watched for days as they searched for survivors and then bodies as hope evaporated almost quickly as the dust settled on everything. We watched as they stood silently saluting when one of their brothers bodies was removed carried under a flag.
By the time the news crews like CNN moved on, people stopped watching what was happening to these men and women. Claims for illnesses caused by working in the toxic piles and claims for PTSD were being fought for but hardly anyone noticed.
Two wars were started because of that day. Veterans paid and are still paying. The police officers and firefighters along with other first responders are paying. Just when you think it doesn't get any worse, this comes along.
If the allegations are true, then the justice system needs to prove it and they need to be held accountable. It is rare but it does happen. Not just now but there has been a history of frauds in every walk of life while people needing help the most often never receive it.
What boils my blood pressure is how CNN reported this. Pay close attention to the bold parts.
Prosecutor: More than 100 NYC police and firefighters indicted in PTSD scam
CNN
By Ray Sanchez. Susan Candiotti and Lorenzo Ferrigno
January 7, 2014
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Photos show the "disabled" first responders playing basketball, doing martial arts
More than 100 cops and firefighters have been indicted in a disability scam
The scam spanned more than two decades
Some claimed to have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after the 9/11 attacks
New York (CNN) -- Though the former New York City police officers and firefighters were supposed to be fully disabled -- some suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after the 9/11 terrorist attacks -- photos in court documents released Tuesday painted a starkly different picture.
One man smiled behind shades and flipped the bird aboard a Sea-Doo personal watercraft. Another sat at the controls of a helicopter. A mixed martial arts instructor posed with arms crossed. They're seen riding motorcycles, hauling in massive sailfish, slugging softballs for the "NYPD Blues," taking jump shots, running half marathons and golfing, and even giving television news interviews while selling cannoli at Manhattan's famed San Genaro festival.
They are among the more than 100 retired New York City police and firefighters indicted in a massive Social Security disability scam involving hundreds of millions of dollars, authorities said. More than half the recipients received funds for fraudulent claims for PTSD in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the World Trade Center.
"We will chase down every penny that these dishonorable thieves fraudulently pilfered so that the truly heroic firefighters, police officers, medics, and civilians who actually risked their lives on September 11, 2001, and are now suffering because of it, can get the care that they critically need," said James T. Hayes, Jr., special agent-in-charge of Homeland Security Investigations New York.
The alleged scam spanned more than two decades, with law enforcement officers and firefighters coached on how to behave during doctor visits in order to qualify for full disability benefits, officials said.
read more here
The claim is for PTSD. Right? So what does it matter what they do physically especially when most of the things they were doing charities have been raising huge sums of money to supply them with?
Martial Arts and PTSD? Yes, many use that. Everything in the list above are things that people with PTSD not only can enjoy but are encouraged to do but CNN makes it seem as if they are not supposed to do any of this.
Riding motorcycles? Ever see a veteran or a cop on a motorcycle? Marathons, golfing, fishing and playing softball? Everything on this list are things they are told they should do to be active in recovery and what almost every charity across the country is raising boatloads of cash to provide.
As for helping these cops get through the system, that isn't anything new either. For veterans there are veterans service officers helping veterans get thru the rigmarole of the claims process.
CNN just managed to not only put these cops on public trial, they did it to the veterans with PTSD as well. If you read Wounded Times you know exactly what experts recommend for the veterans to do as part of healing. All of what is in the list is
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