Police officers are not privately employed, but work for a city, county, state or federal government. Their main responsibilities are to enforce the laws of the jurisdiction they are employed by. This may require routine monitoring by vehicle or on foot. At any time a police officer is responsible for responding to what they regard as a possible or actual infringement or crime. They may be on their own, or work with a partner or a team. They may be required to apprehend a suspected criminal, arrest them and interrogate them at a police station. Police officers may also be required to maintain public order at public events, demonstrations and marches and visits by dignitaries. Common Workplace Injuries Police officers have such a varied job that there are many risks involved and injuries amongst the police force, sometimes fatal occur regularly. Those who use motorbikes or police cars face the ever present danger of traffic accidents and collisions, especially when called to respond to an emergency quickly or chase a suspected criminal. Apart from vehicle accident injuries the most common injuries result from violence faced by police officers in their course of duty. This could involve stab wounds, severe trauma caused by an attack with a hard object such as a cosh or steel bar, or firearm wounds. Next Steps After a Workplace Injury As officers are employed by different government agencies, their workers’ compensation arrangements are somewhat different from those workers who are employed by private individuals and companies. However, there are strong similarities. Any incident in which a police officer is injured, whether it is a rear end collision with another vehicle at an intersection or a shotgun wound in the stomach, must be reported to the supervising officer. If the wound or injury is serious, this can be done by other police officers while the injured officer is taken for treatment. It is important that the injury or injuries are officially recorded as compensation depends on recognizing that it happened while at work and not off duty. How Workers Compensation Can Help Police officers will be adequately insured for injuries and sickness related to their job. Typically, a normal workers’ compensation package covers only medical treatment and lost earnings, but as police officers work for a government agency, they receive compensation for emotional and psychological stress as well. Unlike normal workers’ compensation they may also receive full compensation for time they have to be off duty because of their injury. Why You Should Contact a Workers’ Compensation Lawyer If there is any dispute about compensation for injuries while working as a police officer, then it is advisable to discuss the situation with an experienced attorney who has dealt with police officer compensation situations before. Complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page to consult with a lawyer who may be able to help your claim. Additional Resources What Types of Injuries Does a Workers’ Compensation Claim Cover? Work-related Vehicle Accident and Workers' Compensation
