On monitoring and treatment issues, the government has completely failed police officers. While the FDNY is conducting its own monitoring program funded by federal dollars, we are told that the NYPD is not even keeping track of those made ill by 9/11. Other agencies and treatment centers responsible for monitoring WTC-related illnesses have completely failed the workers they were funded to serve. After five years, precious little has been published detailing the illnesses responders are suffering, and the scope of the testing leaves much to be desired. No health agency has issued protocols for treatment to guide the medical community. As a result, many health practitioners are simply unable to identify unique WTC symptoms and illnesses and render useful assistance to our members. Finally, treatment programs are inadequate and under-funded, resulting in many months of delays before sufferers are even seen under the programs.

After hearing horror stories from our members about the problems confronting them, the PBA developed a multi-pronged strategy to cope with the inadequate, unfair and often unlawful treatment of our sick members. First, we recognized that we needed to elevate the public’s awareness of the issues. Police officers, not complainers by nature, have stoically shouldered the burden of anxiety, illnesses and death. Consequently, at first little was known about these issues outside of family and friends. However, it eventually became apparent that our officers would have to sacrifice privacy and anonymity to share with the public the illnesses they were suffering.

The first major push in this regard came on April 23, with Pat Lynch’s op/ed piece in the Daily News, which highlighted the fact that many responders were ill as a result of 9/11. He called for an acknowledgement of the problem, the dissemination of information about the illnesses being suffered and government funding for better testing, treatment and tracking. He dismissed calls from the medical community for “scientific” studies, which would take years to conduct, citing time concerns and the worsening conditions of some of our members. Next, the PBA established its WTC Registry, designed to fill an information void created by the inaction of government or various monitoring programs. The Registry web page contains an anonymous list of those who have called our program and reported illnesses, listing age, symptoms, diagnosed illnesses and time spent at Ground Zero. It also contains studies, media reports, forms to seek line-of-duty status, department orders, an interactive component that allows our police officers to communicate with each other, and other items relevant to WTC health issues. The response to the registry from both the members and the media has been phenomenal. Many members expressed thanks that their illnesses were being recognized and that they now had an on-line resource to publicize the illnesses confronting themselves and fellow officers, as well to learn about avenues for treatment and other information.

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We also contacted the media, sharing with them our knowledge of the issues and agreeing to make available members who were willing to make speak publicly about their conditions. We played a significant role in the Daily News’ series of articles and editorials that have done a terrific job in highlighting the issues surrounding WTC-related illnesses. This series has powerfully urged for public officials, including Mayor Bloomberg, to assume responsibility for acknowledging that service at Ground Zero has caused illnesses and fatalities. The News argued for appropriately funded treatment programs and for eliminating inequities to 9/11 responders in the area of disability and pension benefits. Similarly, many New York Post pieces came from our members coming forward and sharing their stories.

Next, the PBA challenged the department’s and the Police Pension Fund’s determinations involving individual police officers and their 9/11-related illnesses and are in the process of reviewing further challenges. At first, the Pension Fund refused to accept the disability application of Police Officer Ronald Weintraub, an officer who contracted a rare form of cancer and died after spending extensive time at Ground Zero and tragically lost his battle with cancer. Walter Liddy, Manhattan South Financial Secretary, filed the application required under the WTC Presumption Bill on Officer Weintraub’s behalf. The Pension Fund refused to accept the application, citing the specious claim that it needed to be filed by Police Officer Weintraub himself, even though he was at death’s door when the application became available for filing.

After the PBA filed suit, which generated extensive media coverage, the city agreed to accept P.O. Weintraub’s application. We hope P.O. Weintraub’s widow and two small children will soon be provided with the benefits they deserve.

The department has also refused to grant line-of-duty status to members suffering from sarcoidosis — an inflammatory disorder affecting multiple organs including the lungs — as a result of exposures at Ground Zero.

Without line-of-duty status, certain medical expenses and drug costs may have to borne by the police officer rather than the city. It also may have an impact if a member becomes disabled. We appealed that denial, citing the latest medical information, FDNY studies showing a dramatic increase in sarcoidosis after 9/11, and our own information that the number of our members suffering from the illness is well beyond those suffering the illness in the general population.

We are awaiting the department’s decision, which, if not favorable, we will appeal to the State Supreme Court. We are currently reviewing other denials with an eye toward challenging those determinations.

As a result of these and other efforts, we have been able to bring significant public exposure to the health issues affecting our members and other first responders. Now the monitoring programs, which have been slow to release data, have promised to issue a report in the near future. We are also told that they are considering releasing data regarding ailments that thousands of responders are reporting to the program, akin to the PBA Registry. We understand that the city Health Department will soon release treatment protocols and guidelines to the medical community so that police officers’ personal physicians will be aware of the unique health issues affecting those exposed at Ground Zero. Also, PBA-supported legislation has passed both houses of the State Legislature that will grant death benefits to those who lose their lives to a recognized WTC illness up to 25 years after their date of retirement. We hope the public exposure given to these issues will encourage the governor to sign this important legislation.

The PBA believes a debt is owed to each police officer that put himself or herself at risk responding to the WTC crisis. The PBA will continue to push to ensure that that debt is honored. We encourage members who are ill to call the PBA Registry at (212) 298-9162. If you have health concerns related to exposure after 9/11, please do not hesitate to contact the General Counsel’s Office.