Signed into Law: Bipartisan Bill Cosponsored by Senator Hassan to Support Law Enforcement Officers Suffering from PTSD & Their Families

WASHINGTON - Senator Maggie Hassan expressed her appreciation for the President’s decision to sign into law the Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022, a bipartisan bill that she cosponsored to expand benefits for public safety officers who are disabled as a result of traumatic service-related experiences and for the families of public safety officers who die by suicide stemming from those experiences.

“Law enforcement officers bravely put themselves in harm’s way to keep our communities safe and may experience traumatic situations in the line of duty. When that happens, we must support them and their families,” said Senator Hassan. “This law will help ensure that officers struggling as a result of PTSD can access the benefits that they deserve, and provide benefits to the families of public safety officers who tragically die by suicide. I especially want to thank Sherry Bryant – whose son died by suicide – for her bravery in speaking up about the importance of this legislation.” 

“My son, Sgt. Cory Slifko, knew since he was eight years old that he wanted to be a police officer, and he fulfilled that call to serve for twenty years,” said Sherry Bryant of Merrimack. “Cory would always say it was his purpose in life to protect and serve others - a purpose that led to him suffering from PTSD and tragically taking his life on November 5, 2019. My son’s death by suicide did not allow my daughter-in-law nor grandchildren to receive any benefits to help them through their loss. I thank Senator Hassan for her support of the Public Safety Officer Support Act of 2022, which makes a real difference in the lives of our officers, our families, and the realities we face.”

Senator Hassan is committed to providing law enforcement officers, first responders, and service members with the support that they need. Earlier this month, the Senate passed three bills to increase funding for small police departments and improve officer training. Senator Hassan recently joined her colleagues in introducing legislation to gather greater information on attacks targeting law enforcement and pushed to increase funding for state and local law enforcement. In 2019, bipartisan legislation became law that Senator Hassan cosponsored to help prevent law enforcement officer suicide.

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