The union representing New York State Troopers is turning to public pressure, launching a billboard campaign aimed at Gov. Kathy Hochul over mental health support for its members.
The New York State Troopers PBA unveiled billboards in Albany and Buffalo after Hochul vetoed legislation last year that would have created a critical incident leave policy for the State Police. The union says the move is meant to keep the issue front and center as lawmakers head into the 2026 legislative session.
“Governor Hochul has repeatedly said she believes in supporting law enforcement and has also recognized the need to strengthen mental health support for those who put their lives on the line to protect New Yorkers,” said PBA President Charles W. Murphy. “Establishing a critical incident leave policy for the New York State Police helps accomplish both of those goals.”
The legislation, known as S2681/A6452, passed both chambers of the state Legislature last June with overwhelming bipartisan support before being vetoed. It would have guaranteed paid leave for troopers involved in traumatic incidents while on duty.
Under the proposal, troopers directly involved in a use-of-force incident that resulted in serious injury or death would have been eligible for up to 20 days of paid leave. Those indirectly involved would have been eligible for up to 15 days. The policy was voluntary and designed to protect troopers from financial or professional penalties while they processed trauma and prepared to return to duty.
Union leaders argue the lack of a formal policy forces troopers to choose between their mental health and their careers. They say that pressure only worsens burnout in an agency already struggling with recruitment and retention.
Murphy said troopers routinely encounter traumatic situations that leave lasting effects. He pointed to national research showing that post-traumatic stress disorder rates among law enforcement officers can be more than double those of the general public. While about half of Americans experience at least one traumatic event in their lives, a 2023 FBI analysis found law enforcement officers face an average of 178 traumatic incidents over the course of their careers.
The PBA says those numbers underscore why time away after critical incidents matters, not just for individual troopers but for public safety. Union leaders argue that allowing officers to recover properly reduces long-term mental health issues and helps ensure they can safely return to duty.
The billboard campaign calls on the governor to revisit the issue in her upcoming executive budget. The union says it hopes Hochul will back funding or policy changes that reflect her public statements acknowledging the mental health toll law enforcement work takes.
Representing about 7,000 active and retired uniformed members, the Troopers PBA says the issue goes beyond benefits. Union leaders say it reflects how the state values the people tasked with protecting New Yorkers every day.
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