Mental Health Update

As the Legislative Session comes to an end in Albany, there were a few bills we have been working on that have passed both houses and our awaiting the Governor’s signature.  We were very pleased to support a bill that provides up to twenty days of paid leave to any member of the State Police if they have been involved in a horrific event.

The mental health aspects of a traumatic event can lead to isolation, depression, anxiety and even suicidal ideation. We applaud the legislator for passing this bill and urge the Governor to sign.

On another note,  unfortunately it appears that the Peer Driven First Responder bill will not pass this session.  This is disappointing. We will discuss later this week.

State Legislature approves paid time off for troopers after ‘critical incidents’

By Lucy Hodgman
Staff Writer June 16, 2025

ALBANY — State troopers were involved in three fatal shootings during a single week in April. Current state law could generally have those troopers return to duty the following day.

That could soon change under a bill that recently passed both houses of the state Legislature. If it’s signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, the legislation would give more time off to troopers directly involved in a “critical incident” — which the legislation defines as any action taken by a member of the State Police that results in someone’s serious injury or death.

Sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Jeremy Cooney and Assemblyman Patrick Burke, the bill passed with near-unanimous support after a push from the union representing state troopers earlier this spring. Supporters frame it as a basic mental health provision for an agency where morale has dwindled in recent years.

“Our New York state troopers are dedicated public servants who work diligently to protect our communities,” Cooney said. “With this bill, we will be giving them the mental health support they deserve after experiencing horrific events, giving them the time to properly heal. I hope that this bill will become a national model for how we address mental health issues and support our law enforcement agencies.”

The final version of the legislation grants a minimum of 20 days of paid leave to any member of the State Police whose actions on the job cause a person’s serious injury or death. Troopers who are involved in a critical incident but do not directly cause the harm would receive 15 days of paid leave.

That time is intended to serve as a dedicated period for troopers to process the trauma that can linger long after a critical incident is over. Glenn Liebman, CEO of the Mental Health Association in New York State, said troopers typically experience varying degrees of anxiety, isolation and depression in the wake of such incidents. Many benefit from the support of therapists or peers, he added.

Liebman “truly believes” that putting mental health infrastructure in place for all first responders would result in fewer critical incidents occurring in the first place. It’s why he also supports legislation like the Lieutenant Joseph Banish Mental Health Act, which would establish a confidential peer support network for first responders. That bill also passed the Legislature last week.

“They should not suffer in silence,” Liebman said. “That’s our biggest fear and biggest concern. We know they’re taught to deal with things that are very difficult. But when people suffer in silence, things generally are not good.”

The Capital Region saw a spate of deadly incidents this spring, including the fatal shooting of multiple people wielding air guns that troopers initially mistook for real firearms. In another incident, a 69-year-old man was shot and killed by troopers after he opened fire with a high-powered rifle outside a State Police barracks in Saratoga County.

The incidents follow a period of turmoil for the state agency. Fourteen months ago, Superintendent Steven G. James was appointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul to take over the agency and he cleared out most of the agency’s top positions on his first day on the job. A few months later, nearly 60% of the State Police employees that responded to an agency survey reported low morale. 

The State Police, like many law enforcement agencies, has also struggled with recruitment and retention in recent years. New York has seen a 520% increase in annual retirements since 2006, according to a statement from the Police Benevolent Association of the New York State Troopers, which cited “burnout” as the reason for the exodus. And with only 176 recruits graduating in the most recent State Police Academy class, the union said the losses of veteran troopers could soon overwhelm the addition of new troopers.

https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/legislature-approves-time-troopers-critical-20379657.php