The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, the state’s largest police group, says the City of Arlington is forcing officers injured in the line of duty to burn their own sick and vacation time just to attend medical appointments tied to those injuries. CLEAT has put that allegation in writing in a formal letter to City Manager Trey Yelverton, and State Rep. Jared Patterson is urging city leaders to take a hard look at the policy. The clash is bubbling up as local TV investigations continue to follow a Fort Worth firefighter’s fight for workers’ compensation care after a serious on‑the‑job injury.
In its letter, CLEAT told Arlington officials the practice “conflicts with state injury‑leave rules,” according to CBS News Texas. The outlet reports that the union sent the complaint directly to Yelverton and asked the city to fix the policy. Arlington’s public information office was contacted for comment, CBS adds.
State Rep. Jared Patterson, who has sponsored bills on first‑responder benefits in Austin, also sent a letter urging city officials to review the policy, CBS News Texas reports. Patterson is listed as a co‑sponsor of HB 4144, a 2025 workers’ compensation bill for firefighters and peace officers, according to LegiScan. The dispute is unfolding as coverage of Fort Worth firefighter Caleb Halvorson’s difficulty getting care keeps a spotlight on how Texas cities handle line‑of‑duty claims, as detailed by Hoodline.
What CLEAT Alleges
CLEAT says Arlington’s policy forces injured officers to tap into their banked sick or vacation leave for medically necessary follow‑up appointments, shifting the practical cost and recovery burden onto the employee. Union officials argue that making officers use personal time for line‑of‑duty care can discourage follow‑up visits and make it harder for them to get back to full duty. In its letter, CLEAT asked the city to change the practice and bring local rules in line with state guidance on injury leave.
Legal Options And Oversight
If CLEAT’s interpretation of state rules is correct, affected officers could take their complaints to the Texas Department of Insurance’s Division of Workers’ Compensation, which oversees disputes involving claims and employer practices. The division offers complaint forms and an ombudsman program through the Office of Injured Employee Counsel to help workers navigate benefits and resolve disputes. Details are available on the Texas Department of Insurance website.
City Response And What Comes Next
Arlington officials have been asked for comment and had not announced any change to the policy at the time of reporting. CLEAT says it expects a prompt review from city leadership. If the city declines to revise its approach, officers and their advocates could take the matter to state regulators or seek clearer language from lawmakers…