Study: COVID-19 accounted for 62% of duty-related law enforcement deaths in 2020
COVID-19 accounted for 62% of the 295 duty-related law enforcement deaths reported in 2020 to the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund database, which tracks law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, according to a new University at Buffalo study. It’s the first study to examine law enforcement deaths from COVID-19 on a national level, demonstrating the widespread risk from COVID that officers face in their work. University at Buffalo
Some MPD officers leave with lawsuits, complaints and six-figure settlements
One hundred thirty-nine Minneapolis police with misconduct complaints out of 144 have received workers’ compensation settlements since George Floyd was killed by police two years ago, and they’re getting six-figure settlements on their way out the door. Since then, the city of Minneapolis has paid more than $22.2 million in workers’ comp settlements to police officers, according to city records. Minnesota Reformer
Workers’ comp insurance firm opens new Omaha HQ
Workers’ compensation insurance provider Omaha National has opened a new headquarters space in central Omaha after it says it outgrew its office. The company was founded in 2016 with seven employees, and now employs about 200. Omaha World-Herald
Nebraska healthcare employees’ advocate shares workplace violence concerns
According to the International Association of Healthcare safety and security, employees in the healthcare industry are five times more likely to be a victim of workplace violence than those in other occupations. Aside from COVID-19-related incidents, such attacks have included name-calling, excessive profanity, threatening comments or actions, kicking, spitting, biting and sexual harassment. These actions can lead to post-traumatic stress for healthcare employees or cause them to leave the profession altogether. In response to recent hospital shootings in Oklahoma and Ohio, the Nebraska Hospital Association last week shared concerns regarding workplace violence in hospitals. KNOP