2 important points missing from articles on disability benefits

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6:48 PM Friday, June 17, 2011

Your exhaustive report on police and fire disability benefits contained many, many words, but said very little. The articles’ targets seemed to further expose or embarrass certain individuals rather than present a thorough and clear understanding of disability determinations.

Two important points were missing from your report and should be noted as a service to Dayton Daily News readers:

•You failed to report the role the judicial authorities have in determining if a convicted person receives disability payments. The Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund cannot act on its own to withhold a benefit due to a criminal allegation or conviction without a court order.

•HB 123, which will strengthen the penalties against convicted felons to have their disability awards restricted or denied, was signed by Gov. John Kasich in April 2011.

Additionally, retired Dayton Police Officer Wanda Smith’s shallow comments that injuries to the toe, elbow or hand may be insignificant is simply without merit. Smith should know better, particularly having been a command staff member.

The police and fire pension fund remains diligent in conducting numerous independent medical, psychological and vocational examinations on every disability benefit applicant. Being a public safety officer is a dangerous and demanding profession and when officers and firefighters are dispatched, they must be in the best physical and emotional condition to provide the core services that every citizen expects.

The Dayton Daily News should be above printing conjecture or innuendo, and instead stick to reporting facts. Once again, another disappointing media report where it appears the reporters had already reached conclusions before researching the facts.

William J. Estabrook

Columbus

Mr. Estabrook is executive director of the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund.

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