Sen. Jeremy Cooney, NYS Troopers PBA to Call on Governor Hochul to Swiftly Sign State Police Mental Health Leave Bill into Law

Amid Recruitment and Retention Crisis, First-in-the-Nation Legislation Mandates Creation of a Critical Incident Leave Policy to Support Trooper Well-Being, Improve Public Safety

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - State Senator Jeremy Cooney and leaders of the New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association (NYSTPBA) on Monday, July 14th, 2025, at 11 a.m., will call on Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign legislation that would establish a nation-leading critical incident leave policy for the State Police. Senator Cooney and union leaders will gather at Pulaski Park, which is just blocks away from an April 2021 incident on Fairbanks Street in which a parolee who held a woman at knifepoint was shot and critically injured by a Trooper.

Under the bill (S2681/A6452), which sailed through the state Legislature in June with overwhelming bipartisan support, State Troopers will be entitled to up to 20 days of paid leave to allow them sufficient time to process and recover from involvement in a use of force incident that leads to the serious injury or death of another person. Troopers indirectly impacted by such events would be eligible for up to 15 days of paid leave. This voluntary policy will ensure that Troopers exposed to dangerous incidents are not put in a position in which they must deal with stigma or financial penalties for taking extended time off to fully recover and prepare to safely return to work.

The National Institutes of Health reports that PTSD rates among law enforcement officers are as high as 19%, more than double that of the general public. While about half of all adults in America will experience at least one traumatic event in their lives, 2023 FBI analysis found that members of law enforcement are exposed to an average of 178 traumatic incidents throughout their career.

As outlined in the legislation, a critical incident policy for the New York State Police would set a nation-leading standard for how law enforcement agencies help officers address issues following traumatic incidents. Currently, only Kentucky and Texas have formally adopted standards regarding critical incidents, with few safeguards that guarantee adequate leave is offered by individual departments that opt in. Lack of critical incident leave is one of several factors leading to the significant burnout that is forcing Troopers out of the profession earlier and at higher rates than ever before. Since 2006, New York has seen a 520% increase in annual Trooper retirements, from 49 in 2006 to 304 in 2024.

 ·  Who: State Sen. Jeremy Cooney

             Charles W. Murphy, President of the New York State Troopers PBA

             Martin McClellan, Treasurer of the New York State Troopers PBA,

             who was present at the 2021 Fairbanks Street critical incident.

 ·  What: Press conference calling for Governor Kathy Hochul to sign legislation that would

              establish a critical incident leave policy for State Police.

 ·  When: Monday, July 14th, 11 a.m.

 ·  Where: Pulaski Park (please park on Avenue D, along the north side of Pulaski Park),

                1200 North Street,

                Rochester, NY 14621

ABOUT THE NEW YORK STATE TROOPERS PBA

Representing 7,000 active and retired uniformed members, the New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association works hard to serve and protect its members who work hard to serve and protect you.