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Parker joins Colorado Peace Officers Benefit Trust to provide heart screenings for officers
Summary
Council approved an ordinance to join the Colorado Peace Officers Benefit Trust, a statewide trust created under state law to fund heart screenings for law enforcement; Parker will pay a $100 membership fee and plans to participate in a statewide screening program.
The Town of Parker approved an ordinance to join the Colorado Peace Officers Benefit Trust to provide cardiac screenings and related testing for police officers.
Commander Prior of the Parker Police Department told council the trust funds medical evaluations that include blood work and biomarker testing to detect risks for heart disease, which he described as a leading cause of death among law enforcement personnel. He said the state’s House Bill 24-1219 requires employers of law enforcement officers to be part of a trust to provide these screenings; joining an existing trust is an option instead of creating a local trust.
Commander Prior said joining the Peace Officers Benefit Trust carries a $100 lifetime membership fee for the agency. The trust requires at least three member agencies to establish a board; Colorado State Patrol and Larimer County are already members. Once the trust board is formed, it will set program details such as age ranges, provider contracts and scheduling. Prior said these administrative details remain to be defined by the trust’s board.
Council members expressed unanimous support for the ordinance, calling the program a small financial investment for potentially life-saving screening. Councilmembers and the mayor noted Parker’s exposure to job-related stress and commended the department for pursuing the program.
The ordinance (No. 9.386) passed unanimously. The town’s legal and public-safety staff will follow the trust’s formation to finalize participation mechanics and scheduling.
