Reforming Duty Disability

Over at The Contrarian, addressing an issue that should have been solved long ago.

• When COVID-19 struck the globe, the pandemic forced Chicago to dramatically curtail our way of life. As Chicago residents learned to cope with a daily existence transformed by the pandemic — orienting to draconian lockdowns, mask mandates, and school closures — countless city employees were obligated to continue with their duties.

  While residents were forced to capitulate to the extreme measures imposed by Chicago’s health gurus, members of the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department had no choice but to work and accept the prospect contracting COVID was just another ordinary hazard of daily duties.

  A terrible period to be on the streets, by the time Chicago emerged from the pandemic’s darkest days, 14 members of CFD and CPD were acknowledged to have succumbed to COVID in the line of duty. In each instance, the families of the 14 deceased were eligible for death benefits. Yet the fate of several CFD and CPD who prevailed but were debilitated by the virus became a source of controversy.  

  Of those officers and firefighters who did manage to overcome COVID, the predicament of Sergeant of Police Joaquin Mendoza was distinct. A 22-year veteran of CPD who had established an impeccable record as a peace officer, Mendoza’s case of COVID had taken such a toll he had to be rescued by CFD after he collapsed at his South Side apartment. Ravaged by the illness, Mendoza eventually spent 72 days in the hospital battling the virus and endured kidney failure, lost the use of his left arm, and suffered a series of strokes.
  

The state and federal governments had already declared COVID related disabilities to be "line of duty," but this was ignored by the Pension Board, and Groot's people voted 4-3 to deny benefits.

Fortunately for Sgt Mendoza, he had a big name in his corner - Comptroller Suzanne Mendoza, who roasted Groot for her political bull$hit and went to Springfield to push through one segment of needed reform. This is why we supported her for mayor back then. We even had a lawn sign.

The process still takes far too long, placing Officers in real jeopardy of losing insurance benefits, doctors care, untold financial burdens, even their housing, because of senseless bureaucratic red tape. The Contrarian outlines a bunch of common sense reforms that would shorten waiting times and streamline decisions to less these dangers without affecting oversight.

Go read it all.