Post by OnCrime on Jun 16, 2008 23:44:53 GMT -5
The April Five Organization is holding a press conference on Wednesday, June 18th at 10 am in Marshall Park. I'll be attending the press conference and will report the info presented on the main blog.
PRESS RELEASE DETAILS:
MISTREATMENT OF INJURED POLICE OFFICERS
Press Conference to be held to highlight inadequate care and concern for injured officers and how taxpayer money is wasted battling officers for what they deserve
The April Five Organization, whose mission is to serve the sworn officers of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and protect those officers who have sacrificed themselves in the line of duty for our community has organized a press conference.
The speakers will include Tara Stottlemyer, an injured former CMPD officer; Gary Mills, an injured former Salisbury officer; Heidi Hazrati, wife of injured CMPD officer Kayvan Hazrati; as well as a current CMPD Sergeant and other officers injured in the line of duty.
The press conference will be held at ten o’clock in the morning on Wednesday June 18, 2008 at Marshall Park in uptown Charlotte. The park is located at Second Street and McDowell Street. After the speakers are finished, there will also be time for a question and answer session or one-on-one interviews with stations.
The following is a letter written by Heidi Hazrati (wife of injured Ret. CMPD Officer Kayvan Hazrati.) It gives you a good idea of what they go through in trying to get treatments for his injuries. Our city 'self-insures' all employees so as much as they blame the state for the WC denials, the city is the one who makes the final decisions!!!!
PRESS RELEASE DETAILS:
MISTREATMENT OF INJURED POLICE OFFICERS
Press Conference to be held to highlight inadequate care and concern for injured officers and how taxpayer money is wasted battling officers for what they deserve
The April Five Organization, whose mission is to serve the sworn officers of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and protect those officers who have sacrificed themselves in the line of duty for our community has organized a press conference.
The speakers will include Tara Stottlemyer, an injured former CMPD officer; Gary Mills, an injured former Salisbury officer; Heidi Hazrati, wife of injured CMPD officer Kayvan Hazrati; as well as a current CMPD Sergeant and other officers injured in the line of duty.
The press conference will be held at ten o’clock in the morning on Wednesday June 18, 2008 at Marshall Park in uptown Charlotte. The park is located at Second Street and McDowell Street. After the speakers are finished, there will also be time for a question and answer session or one-on-one interviews with stations.
The following is a letter written by Heidi Hazrati (wife of injured Ret. CMPD Officer Kayvan Hazrati.) It gives you a good idea of what they go through in trying to get treatments for his injuries. Our city 'self-insures' all employees so as much as they blame the state for the WC denials, the city is the one who makes the final decisions!!!!
Hello, I'm writing to all of you because I am appalled at the treatment of my husband, Officer Kayvan D Hazrati, who was shot in the line of duty of April 5th, 2006..
The anguish he has been put through by the City of Charlotte makes him wish some days that he had died. He feels that he was not only a victim that day, but every day he has endured since then. He has chronic pain, fatigue, memory issues, lack of cognitive function and assorted other problems.
Today we found out that Risk Management for the city has denied treatment at a pain and neurological center in Michigan that was pushed by the doctor we are forced to see by the city. The treatment was also recommended by his brain injury doctor at CMC. This was a last hope of sorts, as it is to help him deal with what looks to be a life of pain and no chance of complete recovery.
The city has repeatedly tried to deny or cut off future treatments for him and we are in the midst of a stipulation that has been argued over for months. The man who went to work that day for the city of Charlotte never came home and never will.
I refuse to let him be victimized and disrespected any longer. I find it a shame that I had to retain an attorney for him while he still lay in rehab at CMC. I have started The April Five Organization (www.aprilfive.org) and will see to it that I fight for not only my husband, but every sworn officer who risks their life only to be discarded once they no longer can perform their duties.
If media or other outlets must be involved, I will do whatever it takes to let him and all officers live the best life they possibly can. I wanted to make you all aware of this, as I'm not sure what you actually understand about our situation.
If it were not for friends, our church and doctors offering pro-bono services, we would have lost our house and everything else of value to us by now.
I'm not sure that people understand what needs to be done to care for the officers themselves after an injury, or the families after the death of an officer. I listened in horror at the meeting where benefits were discussed for Sherry Clark and Jennifer Shelton. I can't believe that people do not get what the needs are and what is actually the norm in most cities.
I understand that death or an injury could be part of the job when one is an officer. However, why would they want to take that risk or make the ultimate sacrifice when their family or themselves will not be taken care of. The same city they protected ends up turning their back on them. If you can't tell I am pretty furious right now. I usually handle things well and view us as survivors, but when my husband, who already has enough on his plate, is slammed repeatedly and feels hurt, I take it personally. I refuse to let his hope, faith, health, dignity and future be destroyed and hope you feel the same way