Durham Police Officers Say PTSD Benefits Are Being Challenged

Several Durham Region police officers diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) say their employer is actively challenging their access to workplace mental health benefits, making recovery more difficult after years of frontline service. Officers told they felt betrayed when the Durham Regional Police Service (DRPS) objected to their Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claims despite medical diagnoses supporting their condition.

The allegations follow the release of a six-year Ontario Civilian Police Commission report, which found that DRPS had “vigorously opposed virtually every” PTSD claim submitted by officers to the WSIB. Although the report was heavily redacted, multiple officers say the pattern of objections has continued even after Chief Peter Moreira took office in March 2023.

Chief Moreira maintains that the service objects to only a small number of claims and does so solely to obtain more information in a system he says is plagued by delays. According to DRPS data, the service has submitted objections to roughly 10 per cent of WSIB claims since 2023, most of them related to mental health, and only a small portion proceed to formal appeals.

The objections feel like a personal challenge to their integrity and have worsened symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia and emotional distress. Several reported undergoing assessments from institutions like CAMH and Trillium Health Partners, only to see their claims questioned regardless of medical findings.

Mental health experts warn that employer objections, especially when filed without clear explanations, can be devastating for individuals suffering from PTSD. Psychologist Sean O’Brien, who has treated Durham officers for decades, said such actions can severely undermine recovery and trust.

While DRPS points to systemic problems within the WSIB process, the WSIB says employers have multiple ways to request updates without formally objecting to claims. Officers say that regardless of procedural explanations, the repeated challenges have left lasting emotional harm and delayed their healing.