The New York State Troopers PBA is renewing its call for expanded mental health protections for state police following Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2025 veto of legislation that would have created a critical incident leave policy.
On Wednesday, the union launched billboards in Albany and Buffalo urging the governor to include the policy in the upcoming executive budget.
The vetoed bill — S2681/A6452 — passed both chambers of the state Legislature last June with strong bipartisan support. The proposal would have created paid leave for troopers involved in serious use-of-force incidents, allowing them time to recover from trauma before returning to duty.
“Governor Hochul has said she supports law enforcement and recognizes the mental health challenges officers face,” said New York State Troopers PBA President Charles W. Murphy. “Creating a critical incident leave policy helps accomplish both. Our troopers put their well-being on the line every day, and supporting their mental health is essential to addressing burnout and ongoing recruitment and retention challenges.”
Under the proposed policy, troopers directly involved in a use-of-force incident resulting in serious injury or death would have been eligible for up to 20 days of paid leave, while those indirectly involved could have received up to 15 days. The leave would have been voluntary and designed to ensure troopers were not financially or professionally penalized for taking time to process traumatic events.
The union also cited national data highlighting the mental health risks faced by law enforcement. According to the National Institutes of Health, PTSD rates among police officers can be more than double those of the general public. While about half of all Americans experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, a 2023 FBI analysis found law enforcement officers are exposed to an average of 178 traumatic incidents over the course of their careers.
Images of the billboards displayed in Albany and Buffalo were released by the union.
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