Heidi Hazrati started the group after her husband – former CMPD Officer Kayvan Hazrati – was shot in the head while responding to a SWAT situation.
CHARLOTTE -- Some North Carolina police officers say they are not getting what they deserve when it comes to workers’ compensation. Wednesday, the April 5 Organization held a news conference on the issue to call for change.
Heidi Hazrati started the group after her husband – former CMPD Officer Kayvan Hazrati – was shot in the head while responding to a SWAT situation. The two is in litigation to get money they feel they deserve.
"A shot to the head… there's going to be a lot of repercussion from that and denying anything that a doctor says is needed is wrong,” said Heidi Hazrati.
While Kayvan Hazrati didn’t wish to discuss his pending case, other officers did talk about their experiences after injuries in the line of duty. Gary Mills was hit by a car while chasing a suspect. “This is a job I wanted to keep doing, but I can’t,” said the injured Salisbury officer.
Some North Carolina police officers say they are not getting what they deserve when it comes to workers’ compensation. Wednesday, the April 5 Organization held a news conference on the issue to call for change.
News 14 Carolina's Rob Boisvert has more with Heidi Hazrati.
Some officers say they received a devastating blow when they tried to get help from the state through workers’ compensation but were denied. Many were told their local risk management departments were only following state orders, but they feel not everything should be just black and white when officers are concerned.
"Doing what the law requires… is that always enough? Sometimes you have to use common sense and common sense tells you that if someone is willing to put themselves on the line for you then you need to go the extra mile for them,” said Officer Scott Geiler of the Fraternal Order of Police.
The officers hope that highlighting their problems will help their push for change.
Tara Stottlemyer says after her back injury, she is no longer able to care for her children the way she used to and she feels the city she once protected has turned its back on her. "They threw me away like a piece of garbage,” she said. “And I am sure glad that I didn't treat the city like it was a piece of garbage."
Risk management officials did not wish to comment on camera because they do not discuss issues involving pending litigation. They did say though that they only follow the state guidelines.
Stottlemyer did originally win her case, but the City of Charlotte is appealing.