A Texas police union normally shy of the public eye took to social media to press the governor for help.
The social media press conference on April 23 was set up to press Gov. Greg Abbott to ease rules allowing law enforcement personnel who contract the COVID-19 virus to receive workers compensation.
Charley Wilkison of C.L.E.A.T. (Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas) also called on the state and federal government to make available personal protective equipment (PPE) in rural areas of the state.
His remarks appeared on the C.L.E.A.T. Facebook page Thursday. Wilkison said his organization has repeatedly
tried to press Abbott to take action, including video messages on March 24 and April 7 and a number of letters.
“The number of officers testing positive for the disease is growing by the day. This country has suffered its first law enforcement line of duty death related to this horrific disease,” Wilkison said in a letter dated March 31. “We call on you today to immediately take whatever action necessary to move to protect all Texas First Responders and make COVID-19 a covered presumptive disease under the law. If you do not have the authority, then take whatever action is needed to make sure this happens immediately.”
According to C.L.E.A.T, Abbott had received similar letters from several lawmakers and Wilkison said in the press conference that his appeal has bipartisan support.
Currently, C.L.E.A.T. personnel are traveling to rural areas with PPE. “It’s not our job but we are proud to do it. We’re handing it out to DPS troopers, to game wardens. There’s not a chief of police, sheriff or constable that hasn’t welcomed us.”
He stressed that “no governmental spending and no tax dollars have been spent on the effort, which has so far spent a quarter of million dollars“ just on masks and supplies, not including delivery in the field.
“We believe the government is going to catch up to the crisis. We believe the federal government is buying masks,” he said. However, all he’s heard is that help “is coming.”
Already, he said, three prison personnel have died from the virus.
“I beg of state leaders, of Gov. Abbott. We know it is in your power to do an executive order and make COVID-19 a presumptive illness for all first responders … The first responders of Texas deserve to have this disease covered.”
Such an order could, he said, be made a permanent part of Texas law once the Legislature reconvenes in January of next year.
