January 9th is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, and we want to take this opportunity to remember the risks faced everyday by the officers charged to serve and protect our communities. From motor vehicle crashes to assaults, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) should be a big concern. While for years leading voices in the field have been calling for much-needed TBI support for law enforcement, practically no significant research on the prevalence and impact of TBIs in the law enforcement community could be found. This, however, is changing.
Federal Legislation Offers Continued TBI Support for Law Enforcement
August of 2024, the U.S. Senate passed six bills to support law enforcement and first responders, including The Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act (H.R. 2992). This bill mandates that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) examine the prevalence and incidence of concussions among first responders. It also instructed the Attorney General to develop crisis intervention tools for first responders who interact with those suffering from TBI or PTSD. This law follows up on the promise of 2022’s Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act (Public Law 117-170).
Along with the study and resource recommendations, the original law required the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to “consult with relevant agencies to establish crisis intervention training tools for first responders to address individuals with traumatic brain injuries, acquired brain injuries, and post-traumatic stress disorder.” Best practices regarding techniques to interact with and recognize persons who have a concussion/TBI symptoms will be developed to help law enforcement officers, so that they can learn how to respond appropriately. It is good to see continual congressional support for our nation’s first responders.
First of Its Kind Study of Head Injuries in Law Enforcement in 2024
In August 2024, researchers from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center published a first of its kind study surveying 381 law enforcement officers in central Ohio. The study appeared in The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation and reported that 74% of the officers reported a history of one or more head injuries, and a full 30% had suffered a head injury on the job. Many of these injuries went unreported. The researchers found a correlation between reported histories of head injuries and mental health symptoms such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The authors concluded that more traumatic brain injury education, care and support needs to be provided to law enforcement officers to optimize their brain-injury management and to improve long-term outcomes.
We have previously shared the TBI stories of two police officers, whose careers ended prematurely due to TBIs suffered in the line of duty, one attempting to apprehend a suspect on foot and the other in a motor vehicle crash. There are more stories out there that go along the same path. With the passage of the TBI and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act, officers will get the support they need and the incidents of TBIs among law enforcement will come to light.
We need to talk about concussions in law enforcement. That conversation seems to have finally begun.
[Post updated on 1.08.2025]
Law Enforcement Concussion Baseline Testing Programs
We at Mid-Atlantic Concussion (MAC) Alliance are proud to offer our free Law Enforcement Concussion Baseline Testing Program to agencies throughout the region as our way of giving back to the men and women who protect and serve our communities every day. Having a baseline report on record will give these police officers a valuable “road map” of their healthy brain in the event of a head injury.
We utilize Sway Balance System technology for this program for fast, accurate and confidential brain health screenings. Sway Balance is FDA-cleared and is administered through an app for smartphones and tablets, using acceleratometer technology built into those devices in a series of balance tests to establish a baseline.
More About Our Concussion Baseline Testing Program for Law Enforcement
