Wounded NJ LE officers to get counseling

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A very good idea.

Wounded NJ law enforcement officers to get counseling help

The Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. - Wounded law enforcement officers in New Jersey will get counseling support paid for by the state under a law signed Wednesday by Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

"New Jersey's law enforcement officers have made the choice to shoulder the risk and responsibility that comes with the job of protecting our state and its people," Corzine said. "We must make it our responsibility to ensure that these officers get the proper counseling care and support that they need if they are wounded in the course of performing that task."

The law expands a state toll-free crisis hot line program for law enforcement to include counseling and support services for officers wounded in the line of duty.

Under the program, wounded law enforcement officers could receive free peer counseling, debriefing, group therapy and individual therapy through the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. UMDNJ would receive $80,000 from the state to fund the program.

Edward R. Brannigan, president of the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police, praised the signing and said counseling can prove vital.

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This is very good news. I hope other states will follow New Jersey.

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I hope they extend the counseling not only to those injured in the line of duty but to those forced to use deadly physical force in the performance of their duties.