Minneapolis Fire PTSD leave drives ‘$12,000-a-day’ overtime strain; City leaders rethink agency budget 

The Minneapolis Fire Department (MFD) says PTSD leave is driving up overtime costs and forcing city leaders to rethink the agency’s budget.

Public safety leaders told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS they have a plan to bring that spending closer to reality as Minneapolis debates its 2027 budget. The department says traumatic 911 calls have not slowed down, and it does not expect those costs to slow down either.

“There’s been several high-profile incidents, but it’s really the cumulative effect of the responses that our firefighters are subjected to. We see the worst that humanity has to offer,” said Chief Reggie Freeman.

“All of these things compounded over time have a significant impact on our members.”

“Sometimes it feels like we’re not getting a break,” said Public Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette.

Freeman, sitting down for the interview on his second da...