Mayor Responds to Termination of Longview Officer

LONGVIEW — Longview Mayor Jay Dean is responding to concerns voiced over the now-official termination of an injured officer. About a year ago, Police Officer Leigh Ann Snyder was critically injured after her vehicle was hit by a driver who was allegedly drunk and uninsured. A law enforcement organization representing Snyder emailed a release to KETK, outraged with the possible termination of Snyder on December 11. Since then, East Texans have voiced their concerns. In a statement printed in the Longview News-Journal, Dean says, “I share in your concern and wish for her successful recovery…I believe it is important for an organization to have a safety net in place to care for employees that have been injured. I also believe it is important to have a consistently-applied policy to address situations when they arise. We have both.”

Dean points out, “The City of Longview’s Workers Compensation coverage provides for the full medical costs associated with the accident and will continue to do so for the life of the employee. Our Worker’s Compensation coverage also assists with related costs such as child care coverage or modifications to a home to allow for handicap access. The City of Longview’s coverage also gives injured employees a “Temporary Income Benefit” that provides the injured party with 70% of their gross pay, untaxed, for up to 2 years. When the Temporary Income Benefit is no longer available, the City of Longview has a long-term disability policy that provides up to 60% of original income.

“City of Longview policy states that employees are separated from employment if they are unable to fulfill their full job capacity for 12 months within a 24 month period. This policy is in line with or better than many cities across Texas…The purpose of the policy is to provide a neutral, consistent basis for addressing cases when employees cannot work in their full capacity, regardless of the reason. It is also very important to note that injured employees are eligible for rehire when they have been medically cleared for full duty.

Dean concludes, “I realize that these safety net benefits do not erase the original harm of an accident, but they do play an important role in caring for an injured employee and building a bridge as they seek to return to full employment. The City Council spent several years reviewing all aspects of employee pay and benefits to ensure that we are able to recruit and retain a quality workforce to serve the citizens of Longview. I have been impressed by the public compassion and concern for Ms. Snyder through fundraising efforts. I encourage residents to continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.”