The Police Association is in talks with the North Central Regional Health Authority in a bid to create a better health policy document for its members.

The news comes as the service mourns the death police officer Stephen Swanson.

Acting CPL Swanson passed away suddenly last Saturday night.

Officer Swanson, an Acting Corporal with 15 years’ service, was last attached to the Canine Unit.

President of the Police Social and Welfare Association Gideon Dickson told Newscenter 5 he is saddened by the passing of officer Swanson.   

Mr. Dickson said this morning members of the TTPS like any other citizen battle lifestyle diseases but their level of anxiety associated with their job makes them more susceptible.

He added that this was the trigger for drafting a new health policy for police officers.

According to a recent study from the Harvard School of Public Health and the Cambridge Health Alliance, the life expectancy of a police officer is 20 years less than a normal civilian and the average age of a law enforcement officer who has suffered a heart attack is 49 years, compared to 67 for the general population.

In addition, the study says police officers are 25 times more likely to suffer death and disability from heart disease than from a violent action of a suspect and despite this information many agencies have been slow to develop wellness programs and cardiac screening assessments.