Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a bill Thursday enabling first responders to be fully compensated after they suffer a serious injury on the job that leaves them unable to work.
First responders — including police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and public and municipal licensed health care workers — will receive a disability pension that’s equal to 100 percent of their regular compensation after sustaining a “catastrophic, life-threatening or life-altering and permanent bodily injury due to a violent attack,” Healey’s office said Thursday afternoon, August 1. Once they reach the mandatory retirement age, that pension will be cut to 80 percent, which is the ordinary maximum level for a state pension in Massachusetts.
“We depend on our emergency responders to bravely run toward danger when others are running away. It is imperative they have our full support in the event they are seriously injured while performing their duties,” state Public Safety and Security secretary Terrence Reidy said in a written statement. “This legislation is representative of our deep commitment to the health and well-being of our first responders and their families.”
The legislation states that a “violent act injury” occurs after a violent attack involving a dangerous weapon that is intended to cause “serious injury or death,” including a firearm, knife, automobile, or explosive device. Retirement boards must evaluate whether first responders are unable to perform their jobs due to the injury and whether their condition is likely permanent, Healey’s office said.
“We hope that the measures in this law never have to be used, however the reality is that there will be officers who will become permanently disabled due to a violent attack,” said Frank G. Frederickson, director of governmental affairs at the Massachusetts Fraternal Order of Police. “We appreciate that the Legislature recognized that disabled officers have enough struggles to deal with and should not be worried about financial stability. This law sends a good message to our officers and acknowledges the stressful and dangerous work they do.”
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