Phoenix Police Department "Should Have Done Better" Just Words on PTSD Officers

It seems the Phoenix Police Department does not acknowledge the law, PTSD or even their officers.

"Phoenix officials need to fix what’s broken with its wounded PD" editorial by Ret. Master Police Officer Bill Richardson states the deplorable reality of what they say not meeting what they actually do.

This is what they had to say after Officer Craig Tiger committed suicide in 2014

In a statement from Phoenix Police Chief Joe Yahner regarding the current situation involving Sefranka, Yahner told KPHO News’ Donna Rossi in an email, “The Phoenix Police Department is committed to the well-being of its employees. The department has been working closely with city personnel and legal to find an appropriate resolution to the situation. I plan to meet with Detective Sefranka in the near future in an attempt to address his concerns.”

And this is what they said regarding that suicide.

Ex-Phoenix officer with PTSD dies in apparent suicide, CBS 5 News Phoenix November 20, 2014

A former Phoenix police officer who recently revealed his struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder to CBS 5 News has apparently taken his own life.

The death of Craig Tiger is being investigated as a suicide by Coconino County Sheriff's deputies. Tiger was found unresponsive in his vehicle over the weekend at his family's cabin in northern Arizona.

Tiger's death has sparked a debate about whether police departments do enough to care for officers after critical on-duty incidents.

The president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, Joe Clure, said he believes Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia and the Phoenix Police Department played a part in Tiger's death.

"We should have done a lot more for Officer Tiger than what we did," said Clure.

And this is what they ended up doing just a year later according to the letter by Richardson.

I can only imagine what it was like for Phoenix Police Officer Scott Sefranka when he realized he was about to die at the hands of an armed robber on New Year’s Eve 2013.

Sefranka was engaged in a life and death struggle when he lost his duty weapon and was shot twice in the torso. Two bullets from his pistol ripped through his body and left him near death. It was a miracle that he survived and has been able to return to work.

Sefranka was able to return to work as a missing persons detective that allowed him to use his police skills and still make a contribution. He could’ve easily taken a disability pension, but good cops don’t want to give up the fight.

After returning to work Sefranka was accompanied by Bigby, the support dog that helps him with the day-to-day stresses of recovering from the physical and mental wounds of near death experience. Bigby is a trained to be there for him at work at home.

But not anymore!