Page 385 - FY 2026-2027 Adopted Budget Book

Medical Evaluation Program for Police

Officers

Organizational Excellence

General Fund Police Recurring $55,000

It is the goal of the Bedford Police Department to establish a preventive wellness program that works in
conjunction with its established mental health program to increase the overall wellness of department
members while reducing medical costs that affect city benefits. This program will provide preventive screening
for department members, so medical conditions can be addressed before they lead to a medical emergency,
resulting in a decrease in time lost due to illness and/or disease, reducing medical insurance liability for the
member and the city, and increasing the life expectancy of our first responders, compared to the established
research of 57 years. The proposed program provides broad, multi-modality health screening designed to
identify early indicators of disease or elevated risk, even in the absence of reported symptoms. Screening
results do not constitute a diagnosis. Abnormal findings guide appropriate follow-up, not automatic restriction.
The program will complement, not replace, existing medical evaluations.

Research indicates that the average life expectancy of U.S. police officers is significantly lower than that of
civilians, with some studies reporting an average of 57 years for officers compared to 69 years for the general
population. Additionally, Police officers experience higher rates of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and mental
health issues compared to civilians. In response to the unique health risks faced by police officers, many law
enforcement agencies have implemented a range of preventive measures and support systems to improve the
life expectancy of their personnel. These programs focus on both physical and mental health, offering regular
health screenings, fitness programs, and stress-management workshops to mitigate the effects of job
demands.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of line-of-duty deaths in law enforcement. Unlike cancer,
cardiovascular events often occur suddenly, frequently during emergency responses or within 24 hours of a
call, when physiological stress is highest. In Texas, heart attacks or strokes are considered presumptive
occupational illnesses when they occur on duty if the officer was engaged in a nonroutine, stressful, or
strenuous physical activity involving an emergency response activity, or a training exercise involving
nonroutine, stressful, or strenuous activity. As a result, even a single cardiac event or stroke can immediately
remove an officer from operations for six to 12 months or longer in some circumstances, respectively, creating
substantial salary continuation and overtime obligations.

Public Safety personnel face unique and cumulative occupational hazards, including carcinogenic exposure,
cardiovascular strain, sleep disruption, and psychological stress. These risks elevate the likelihood of cancer,
cardiovascular disease, and behavioral health conditions, many of which develop without early or clearly
perceived symptoms. Because Public Safety professionals are conditioned to tolerate discomfort and maintain
operational readiness, early warning signs may be underrecognized, resulting in unexpected medical
removals, increased workers compensation and disability exposure, overtime and staffing instability, reduced
readiness, and increased organizational liability.

Employee health - especially that of our first responders - is a priority; however, city staff were unable to fund
this new program this year. City staff are continuing to improve on our health and wellness initiatives; and will
continue to evaluate this and similar programs for future funding.

FY 2026-2027 Adopted Budget Book · September 15, 2026 381