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Please show your support and write, fax, and/or e-mail this bill to your legislators.
"Police Officers Death and Disability Act"
As Americans of the United States, we pride ourselves on the fact that we are a supportive
nation; one that stands strong and fights for freedom in our country. When we hear this
we immediately think of those in the military, rightly so. However, there is another group
of men and women that face the same adversity and immediate danger everyday that go
unnoticed. The police officers, the men and women in blue, that serve and protect us
civilians 24/7. These individuals do their jobs just as honorably as those in the
military, but yet, are not given the same respect or viewed on equal grounds
as to those who are actively serving in either the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. Why?
Some of these same individuals did serve their country and then chose a life style
that is parallel to the military in many respects, but are not entitled to the same
benefits should he/she become injured to the capacity of no longer being able to
perform their job or worse killed in the line of duty. Who protects those that protect us?
What happens to these individuals that are taken down in the prime of their lives and
leave a family behind or have a whole new other lifestyle to adjust to? One of continuous
physical pain, mental anguish, and the memory of what was at one time, what life used
to be like prior to "that day."
It is out of respect and gratitude to those individuals that risked their lives and lost
theirs while performing their job as they were trained, to serve and protect.
Two little words, (serve, protect) that have such a powerful message and sometimes
tragic consequence is the result. Who knew that those two words (serve, protect)
came with just as much of a high price as freedom does?
Therefore, a proposal supporting these men and women is being put into place, called
the, "Police Officers Death and Disability Act." This federally funded act
would provide protection to those who did the protecting and can no longer
actively serve in that role. Through this proposal would enable these police
officers to have their medical bills paid for by the government and that their
families' medical expenses are covered as well. We, as a nation, do this for our
Veterans, why not police officers who have provided the same service, but only
right next to us, not overseas, not 3 states away or on a gulf coast somewhere,
but as local/state police officers that patrol our street/city at night while
we are sleeping and during the day when we are at work. These men and women are
protecting us, where ever we may be and our neighborhoods while we are not there.
In this line of duty, these men and women work 24/7 for us civilians, to protect
us and our families. By having this act supported, this would be the greatest,
"thank you" to give back to these police officers at the local
and state levels and provide us civilians the opportunity to turn around and
protect those that did the protecting.
The following provisions will apply to the "Police Officers Death and Disability Act:"
If a Law Enforcement Officer should become injured in the line of duty to the extent
that they are no longer able to perform their duties as a Law Enforcement Officer and
must retire due to disability, then the Officer shall be determined to fall under this act.
Disabled/retired Officers will become eligible for 100% paid medical coverage at the
date of retirement paid for by the Federal Government under this bill. The Officer,
spouse and children 18 years of age and under, or those who are 21 years of age
and under if they remain a full-time student will also be covered under this provision.
Those covered under this Bill shall be issued a medical identification card at no
cost and it will serve as an insurance card accepted by all licensed medical practitioners
and facilities and all charges are to be paid by the United States Government.
(This bill shall also include 100% costs of medical prescriptions; such as medication,
equipment or any other means that are necessary to aid in the officers recovery due to the
injury the officer has sustained.)
If a Law Enforcement Officer should become disabled in the line of duty, this bill
shall also provide the officer with a monthly pension supplement payment of $1,000
for the disabled officer until his/her death. If the officer should be killed in
the Line of Duty then, his/her widow shall also receive said benefit for 1 year or
until remarried.
If the police officer should be killed in the LOD, the surviving spouse and children
under the age of 18 or 21 if the child is in school will continue their medical
coverage 100%. After 1 year, from said date, the medical coverage for the surviving
spouse would terminate, however the children would remain covered fully 100% until
the ages of 18 or 21, if the child is in school.
Should the surviving spouse remarry before the 1 year said date, coverage for the
spouse is terminated immediately upon remarrying. However, the children
would maintain 100% medical coverage until the ages of 18 or 21 are reached
if the child or children are still in school.
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