Since 1976, the families of police and firefighters who die in the line of duty are awarded Public Safety Officers’ Benefits. For many years, however, those who died of heart attacks – even if they occurred on the job – were denied the benefits. In 2003 the program was amended to cover heart attack and stroke death in the line of duty, but it was not retroactive.
The program should be amended to be retroactive and cover all heart attack and stroke deaths that occurred in the line of duty since 1976. Many of the firefighters who died in the earlier days of the program did not have the benefits of the modern heat and water resistant turn-out gear and the breathing apparatus. Their families also deserve the benefit, which would be a one-time payment to correct a longstanding injustice.