While COVID-19 is without a doubt a public health crisis, it is also a public safety crisis. The FOP knew at the beginning of the pandemic that law enforcement officers on the front lines combating this pandemic—more than 90% of whom will be responding from local and State agencies—would be increasingly vulnerable to contracting the virus. COVID-19 makes no distinction between age, race or gender. As we had feared, the virus has claimed the lives of many, and now includes a growing number o...

We know our community is facing a whole new set of challenges each and every day while we’re all doing our fair share to remain indoors and protect each other from the recent Coronavirus outbreak. While working remotely seems simple enough here are some recommendations that can help you better adjust to these changes while you settle into a new work routine. Share to help our community continue to #FlattenTheCurve and be sure to comment with your own tips!

April 10, 2020 To: Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials (CALPHO)  Re: COVID-19 Dispatch Notification Policies and Procedures We are writing to you today to request that each of your Local Public Health Agency (LPHA) members enact a policy for information sharing with the first responders in their communities related to COVID-19 cases. We greatly appreciate the difficult work that LPHAs are doing for their communities during this unprecedented time. First responders a...

Dear Governors, I am writing to you again on behalf of the members of the National Fraternal Order of Police as well as our members in your State to urge you to amend your State and local workman’s compensation laws through executive or legislative action and establish a presumption that law enforcement officers who contract the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) did so in the line of duty. For States that have public safety officer death or disability programs, I urge that they also...

"With Great Appreciation to the President and his Team at the Justice Department" Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, applauded today’s announcement that law enforcement and other public safety officers who file a death benefit claim through the Public Safety Officers’ Benefit (PSOB) program for a COVID-19 related death will be found by the Bureau of Justice Assistance to have contracted the disease in the line of duty in most cases. “This was a vitally ...

April 9, 2020 State Legislature On Wednesday, April 8 the Legislature’s Executive Committee (EC) met and discussed the legislative schedule, deciding to aim for an updated revenue projection from both the Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) and Legislative Council on May 12, and to have the session resume on May 18. They emphasized that while May 18 is the current goal for reconvening, it is important to maintain flexibility due to the potential reality of the public health issu...

Can on duty exposure to Covid-19 be considered a work comp claim? Yes, you can file a work comp claim due to an on the job exposure to a virus, harmful chemical, and/or other toxin. This includes Covid-19. What should I do if I believe I was exposed to Covid-19 on the job? DOCUMENTATION You must have clear documentation regarding any and all possible exposures. If you have possible work related exposures on a regular basis, maintain documentation regarding all potential exposures....