PSOB Program Info (Continued)

As you know, the PSOB program works like a life insurance program for officers killed (or grievously injured) in the line of duty.   It covers almost all law enforcement officers in the United States.  The key point about coverage is that it is for “line of duty” deaths and injuries.  For Corona/COVID-19 (as well as for other illnesses contracted due to on the job exposure) the important thing to keep in mind is that the “claimant” (the officer or officer’s survivors) will need to show that it was more likely than not that the illness and/or death was due to exposure to the virus while the officer was performing a line of duty activity or action.  Unfortunately, there is no presumption in the PSOB program that an illness or injury/death of an officer was due to an on the job exposure.  Some states do have such a presumption, but the national PSOB program does not.


So, what should we do to protect our officers and their families in the terrible event that an officer is stricken with this illness and dies?

1. Document, document, document every possible, likely or confirmed exposure to the virus.  This includes calls for service to a facility or location where the illness/virus is suspected or confirmed, as well as contacts with individuals who are exhibiting symptoms of the infection (dry cough, fever, shortness of breath) whether or not they have received a confirmed medical diagnosis.  Obviously, if the location, such as a hospital ER or a nursing home, already is known or reported to be serving infected persons, that information should be documented.
2. How to document?  Include the relevant facts in any official report that you are required to make, and also take the time to note it yourself in any personal log or report.  If it’s an official police department report, that’s the best, but even personal notes, made at the time of the incident, will be considered by the PSOB program in evaluating a claim.
3. What to document?  Location (type of facility, on the street, vehicle, enclosed space, etc.); whether it’s known, reported or suspected that persons with Corona/COVID-19 are/were present; proximity of contact; length of time of contact.  Was the person out of the country recently?  Where?  Have they been in contact with other persons or locations where Corona/COVID-19 has been reported or suspected?
4. Medical info:  Whether you were informed that there was already a diagnosis of Corona/COVID-19 for that person/location.  Or, in the absence of a formal diagnosis, especially since testing is still lagging, note such things as “I observed the person had a fever, a dry cough, and was complaining of shortness of breath, which I recognized as symptoms of infection by the Corona/COVID-19 virus, according to published guidance by the United States CDC.” 

I sincerely hope that none of you will every need to use this advice, but please do distribute it to your members so that, if the very worst should happen, we can at least have a better chance of supporting families and survivors.

Sincerely,


Bill Johnson
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