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"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow
old; Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)
"But we in it shall be remembered; we few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother" Henry V, William Shakespeare
Line of Duty Death (LODD) If you are a resident of North Dakota and would like to report a LODD, a web ring has been established to help notify other EMS services throughout the state. This is in cooperation from the ND DEHS and also the ND EMT Association. Our commander will assist you in publishing the information on the state's web ring. Also, he will notify the National EMS Memorial and notify them of the LODD. The deceased will be eligible to have their name placed at the National EMS Memorial in Roanoke, VA. For individuals who would like to be placed on the ND email web ring or on the National email web ring, please send an email to our commander indicating your preferences at don.martin@fmambulance.com. In the tragic event of a Line-Of-Duty Death (LODD) and you wish to have our Unit participate or if your organization needs help in organizing a function you can contact us immediately 24/7. We can assist in many ways and functions from activating a CISM/CISD team to helping with funeral arrangements. We can also assist in obtaining a dress uniform for the fallen comrade. When contacting our Unit Commander about a LODD, please have the following information available:
You can contact our Unit Commander by multiple means. You can contact him by phone, email, mail, or pager.
PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS' BENEFITS PROGRAM History The Public Safety Officers' Benefit (PSOB) Act (42 U.S.C. 3796, et seq.) was enacted in 1976 to assist in the recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers and firefighters. Specifically, Congress was concerned that the hazards inherent in law enforcement and fire suppression and the low level of State and local death benefits might discourage qualified individuals from seeking careers in these fields, thus hampering the ability of communities to provide for public safety. The PSOB Act was designed to offer peace of mind to men and women seeking careers in public safety and to make a strong statement about the value of those who serve their communities in potentially dangerous circumstances. The resultant PSOB Program, which is administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), presents a unique opportunity for the U.S. Department of Justice; Federal, State and local public safety agencies; and national public safety organizations to become involved in promoting the protection of public safety officers before tragedies occur. Each year, the PSOB program receives substantial information about line of duty deaths that is used to enhance public safety officer training. The PSOB Program also encourages public safety agencies to adopt model policies that can help guide an agency through the tragic event of a line of duty death. Death Benefits
Disability Benefits Federal, State and local law enforcement officers, firefighters, and members of public rescue squads and ambulance crews are covered for catastrophic injuries sustained on or after November 29, 1990. Public Safety Officers Eligible for PSOB Benefits Under the PSOB Program, a public safety officer is a person serving a public agency in an official capacity, with or without compensation, as a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or member of a public rescue squad or ambulance crew. Law enforcement officers include, but are not limited to, police, corrections, probation, parole, and judicial officers. Volunteer firefighters and members of volunteer rescue squads and ambulance crews are covered under the program if they are officially recognized or designated members of legally organized volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, or ambulance crews. A public agency is defined as the United States; any U.S. State; the District of Columbia; the commonwealth of Puerto Rico; any U.S. Territory or possession; any unit of local government, any combination of such States or units; and any department, agency or instrumentality of the foregoing. To be eligible for benefits, a public safety officer's death or total and permanent disability must result from injuries sustained in the line of duty. Line of duty is defined in the PSOB regulations (28 CFR 32) as any action that the public safety officer whose primary function is crime control or reduction, enforcement of the criminal law, or suppression of fires is authorized or obligated by law, rule, regulation, or condition of employment or service to perform. Other public safety officers---whose primary function is not law enforcement or fire suppression--must be engaged in their authorized law enforcement, fire suppression, rescue squad, or ambulance duties when the fatal or disabling injury is sustained. Survivors Eligible for Program Death Benefits Once BJA approves a claim for death benefits, the benefit will be paid to eligible survivors in a lump sum, as follows:
Under the PSOB Act, child is defined as any natural child who was born before or after the death of the public safety officer, or who is an adopted child or stepchild of the deceased public safety officer. At the time of death, the child must be 18 years of age or younger, or 19 through 22 years of age and pursuing a full-time course of study or training, if the child has not already completed 4 years of education beyond high school; or 19 years or older and incapable of self-support due to a physical or mental disability. For PSOB Program benefits to be paid, a public safety officer must be survived by an eligible survivor; public safety officers cannot predesignate their beneficiaries. PSOB Program Limitations and Exclusions No PSOB Program benefit can be paid:
PSOB benefits do not cover death or permanent and total disability resulting from stress; strain; occupational illness; or a chronic, progressive, or congenital disease (such as heart or pulmonary disease), unless there is a traumatic injury that is a substantial contributing factor in the death or permanent and total disability. Medical proof of the traumatic injury (such as a blood test for carbon monoxide poisoning) may be necessary for coverage in these cases. Reduction of Benefits The PSOB Program benefit is reduced by certain payments made under the District of Columbia Code and may itself reduce benefits under Section 8191 of the Federal Employees' Compensation Act. However, State and local benefits must not be reduced by benefits received under the PSOB Act, and the PSOB benefit is not reduced by any benefit received at the State or local level. Interim Payment If BJA determines an urgent claimant need before the final action of paying a death benefit, an interim benefit payment not exceeding $3,000 may be made to the eligible survivor(s) if it is probably that the death is compensable. Attachment and Tax Exemption PSOB death and disability benefits are not subject to execution or attachment by creditors. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has ruled that the benefit is not subject to Federal income tax (IRS Ruling No. 77-235, IRS 1977-28) or to Federal estate tax (IRS Ruling No. 79-397). Attorneys' Fees. The PSOB Act authorizes BJA to establish the maximum fee that may be charged for services rendered to the claimant by another party in connection with any PSOB claim filed with BJA. Contracts for stipulation fee and contingent fee arrangements are prohibited by PSOB regulations (28 CFR 32.22(b)). BJA assumes no responsibility for payment of claimant attorney fees (28 CFR 32.22(d)). Filing A Claim Eligible survivors or disability claimants may file claims directly with BJA or through the public safety agency, organization, or unit in which the public safety officer served. In most cases, the public safety agency provides BJA with sufficient information to determine whether the circumstances of the death or permanent and total disability support a benefit payment. The public safety agency prepares a Report of Public Safety Officer's Death or Permanent and Total Disability Claim Form to accompany the claim for death benefits completed by the eligible survivor(s) or, in the case of disability claims, the injured officer. BJA will determine whether and to whom a benefit should be paid. For Further Information For more information about the Pubic Safety Officers' Benefit Program or to share your observations and recommendations, please contact: U.S. Department of Justice Response Center Tel: 1-800-421-6770
Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program Bureau of Justice Assistance
Bureau of Justice Assistance Clearinghouse
Page last updated: 02/25/08
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