40
NEW JERSEY COPS ■ MARCH 2014
members stressed during the press conference.
Under the bill, injured officers would be entitled to his or her
salary until their workman’s compensation payments begin.
Once their workman’s compensation benefits begin, injured
officers would be entitled to regular supplemental payments
from their employer. The amount of these payments would be
sufficient when combined with the officer’s workman’s compensation to equal
his or her net wages at the time of the
injury.
The supplemental payments would
continue as long as the officer remains a
State Corrections Officer or Juvenile Corrections Officer and continues to receive
workman’s compensation for the injury.
Additionally, the legislation specifies
that these supplemental payments are
not to negate or impair any benefits afforded an injured officer
under the terms of the Local’s contract, and that these fringe
benefits are to remain in full force and effect during the time the
officer is receiving the supplemental payments authorized
under the bill.
“We need the public and state officials to be cognizant of this,
and take the steps to ensure that any officer that is assaulted in
the manner that Officer Then was does not have to worry about
being cared for,” Lopez said.
Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo of Hamilton attended the
news conference to show his support for the legislation and said
that it’s about time the legislature works diligently to pass the
bill and not let it fall through the cracks.
Senator Ronald Rice of Newark told the crowd of media and
“This bill is something that’s
long overdue. It’s a benefit that
most of my municipal
officers enjoy every day.”
TONY WIENERS
PBA members that he is a former law enforcement officer and
protecting the safety of corrections officers is important.
“We hear about our corrections officers, but we don’t pay
enough attention to them,” Senator Rice said. “We’re here for
family and law enforcement. It’s a priority. Without protection
the rest of the stuff we talk about in Trenton doesn’t mean
anything.”
Mercer County Corrections Local 167 President Donald
Ryland also spoke at the news conference to remind that
State Corrections Officers are not the only ones in this unique
profession who are in danger. And he also left those in attendance with a reminder about the fear corrections officers
overcome every day.
“This time it was Officer Then,” Ryland said. “But it could
be one of us or one of our members next time.” d