Cops deserve mental health care

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Manhattan: I have treated police officers for more than 25 years for PTSD, anxiety, depression and trauma, often after they have shot or been shot at, rescued victims of violent abuse, or other horrors they face keeping the rest of us safe. The officers I have worked with come to my private office, paying out of their insurance network and sometimes in checks made out to cash, to protect their privacy and their careers. Psychotherapy is lifesaving for them.

The Violent Crimes Compensation Board provides funds for the victims of a crime, but not for the responding officers who are also victims of the crime if they develop mental health issues as a result of their work. I practice psychology in Manhattan, but also have an officer in Clifton, N.J., where the police officers’ state health benefits provide decent coverage for psychotherapy out of network. This allows a distressed officer to see someone rapidly, which is crucial in trauma therapy. Experienced trauma experts often do not participate in insurance networks, and those that do typically have waiting lists or inflexible scheduling because their practices are overwhelmed.

I strongly believe police officers deserve to have access to highly trained, licensed psychologists with expertise in trauma. They should be eligible for compensation for psychotherapy to reimburse all medical expenses, including mental health expenses, not reimbursed by their insurance.

Police officers are first responders to scenarios the rest of us can barely imagine. They are exposed to dangers and injuries everyday, and deal with life and death in their ordinary — No! — extraordinary daily work. They protect each of us and we should be protecting them as best we can.

Tamara Shulman, Ph.D. ABBP

Social media tyrants

Tobyhanna, Pa.: Regarding your editorial “Social-media poison pill” (June 24): I suppose I am, as you put it, “a far larger idiot” for wanting to see big tech companies regulated. If big tech doesn’t have a bias against speech they disagree with, then why was the pro-life group “Live Action” permanently banned by Pinterest recently? Why did Twitter suspend the accounts of the producers of the movie “Unplanned” on opening night? This isn’t even the tip of the iceberg of the dirty tricks used against anyone that disagrees with their far-left agenda. Maybe the real idiots are the Daily News editorial writers; either for being too stupid to realize how stupid they are or for thinking that most readers are bigger idiots than them.

Joseph Matarazzo

That’s FUCT

Brooklyn: Even when the Supreme Court gets it right, they get it wrong. In the free speech case for shirt company “FUCT”, they, once again,

found the government to be bold criminals violating the Bill of Rights (shocker). But, even the liberal judges said they would’ve sided against free speech if the over-broad statute had “only” banned “vulgar/lewd” trademarked speech! The court asked how we’d feel seeing racial epithets on clothing or in public? Gee, I don’t know. Take a look at some 1970’s Richard Pryor sets on YouTube. We all learned swear words, etc., from mommy and daddy, so I’d call it family values, wouldn’t you? Puritanism is dying. We yearn for freedom.

Uchena Shorey

Time to ‘Free Willy!’

Malverne, L.I.: Re: “Killer whales share behavior traits with primates, including humans” (June 24): Whales and dolphins don’t need to be held captive for us to understand that they are highly intelligent, emotionally complex, sociable and communicative. Scientists who observe cetaceans have known that for decades. Instead, SeaWorld and its former Spanish partner, Loro Parque, who were behind the study, use the findings to justify confining these remarkable animals in barren tanks and denying them their natural needs. They should be released to seaside sanctuaries where they can thrive.

John Di Leonardo

Sides of the same coin

Cranbury, N.J.: I don’t understand people like Voicer Ralph Valente. As I watched the Democratic debates, I was very proud of the speakers. What’s wrong with this great and powerful country enabling the poor among us to have decent medical coverage? What’s wrong with helping deserving young people from low-income families to a college education? Is that called socialism … or Christianity?

Ann Solomon

Good point

Brooklyn: Where is it written that to be president of the United States, you must serve in the military?

Thomas J. Rizzo

He’s got her vote

Bayside: Blaz for prez? I sez yez! Sarah Alboher

Moskowitz 2020

Londonderry, N.H.: In 2016, there was a herd of 17 Republican presidential candidates who negated each other and helped elect the least qualified candidate for president. We have a mirror image with the herd of Democrats running for president in the 2020 election. These candidates want to feed their egos and gain name recognition for future local elections. Twenty-three of 24 Democratic candidates are unqualified to be president, and one of them could end up running against the current unqualified Republican contender for president in 2020. As an Independent, I vote for the candidate who is most qualified for the position. If the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates are not qualified, then I will vote for myself. Donald Moskowitz

Corporal punishment

Long Island City: It is my contention that every woman who was forced to have Harvey Weinstein between their legs would love to chop off Harvey’s ding dong. This you can write in stone.

Steve Chaddock

A woman’s place

Lansdowne, Pa.: Voicer Judith Schoolman is right about age discrimination. I worked until I was 70 but my prominent lawyer boss in Philly is an unusual guy; 17 years younger than I, too. Based on experience, I’d rather eat glass than work for a woman.

GETTY IMAGES There are a lot of Leona Helmsleys around, few male equivalents. Georgia Makiver

Skewed journalism

Long Island City: I find your whole coverage of the Queens DA primary results disingenuous. Tiffany Cabán has not defeated or toppled the Queens Democratic Party. Look at the numbers: Cabán – 39.57%; Katz – 38.3% ; Lasak – 14.5%. The reality is that Lasak pulled from Katz. Without Lasak in the race, Katz would have easily received over 52% of the vote. But I guess the truth isn’t sexy enough to be reported. Laura Jean Hawkins

Bye!

Sandy Hook, Conn.: Only the Republicans have the power now to Make America Great Again — by impeaching Trump! Paul F. Adinolfi

RIP NRATV

Whitestone: I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling the devastation upon hearing the news of its demise. Our nation sends “thoughts and prayers” to NRATV. Robert LaRosa

A real New Yorker

Manhattan: Regarding your article “Man saves woman from sex assault” (June 30): StuyTown is not considered Alphabet City, nor was it ever. Alphabet City is south of 14th St. and StuyTown is north of 14th. Mike Michaelini