Workers Comp Benefit Denied to Family of Missouri Officer Who Died from Virus insurancejournal.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from insurancejournal.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
LEBANON, Mo. (AP) The family of a Lebanon police officer who died of COVID-19 has been denied workers' compensation, city officials said. Officer Kendle Blackburn died Dec. 28 after a long.
Last week, Missouri Employers Mutual notified the city that Blackburn’s claim did not meet criteria for benefits.
City officials issued a news release criticizing the decision and contending it violated state and federal rules designed to protect first responders who become ill or are quarantined because of COVID-19.
A state law signed by Gov. Mike Parson in April presumes the first responder contracted the virus while on duty.
“We appreciate Missouri Employers Mutual’s willingness to work with us on this as they work to understand COVID claims and the presumption order,” Carr said in a news release.
He also thanked Parson, state Sen. Sandy Crawford and state Rep. Jeff Knight for helping to resolve the issue.
Friends remember Officer Kendle Blackburn as the friendliest officer you could ever meet, said Lebanon Police Chief Bryan Arnold, who d known Blackburn for more than 20 years. He was always smiling, waving at the public, Arnold recalled. He d do anything for anybody. I always said he was like our unofficial ambassador of the police department. The entire town knew him and loved him. Kendle s death had a big impact on our community. He was well-known, well-liked, Arnold said. Everybody loved him, and you could tell. On the day of his funeral, people in Lebanon lined the streets to show their support.