Line-of-Duty Death Seminar
Friday — July 19, 2024
Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport
(Location within hotel — To be announced)
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
NOTE: The seminar will end in time for participants to participate in the arrival of the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride
Fortunately, most EMS, fire, and police leaders go their entire careers without ever having to deal with a line-of-duty death. But with approximately 300 first responder line-of-duty deaths in the U.S. each year (prior to the pandemic), the possibility is real that tragedy could strike any agency at any time. Moreover, the chance of a leader being faced with a non-line-of-duty death is substantially greater, and it is something most leaders will face more than once.
Deciding whether to treat a death as line of duty versus active-duty is often very difficult – especially when emotions within an agency are piqued. Unfortunately, mistakes in classification occur frequently and families are set up for significant disappointment – no matter which direction the error goes. It is a common issue with more far-reaching and devastating effects than most realize.
Our seminar will first tackle the question of where to appropriately draw the line between active duty and line of duty. We will examine multiple scenarios, dispel common myths, and discuss the inclusion criteria of national memorials for first responders.
We will also delve into Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB or “federal benefits”):
- what agencies are covered;
- what individuals within those agencies are covered;
- what circumstances of death qualify; and
- who would receive the benefits if paid?
Also:
- presumptive provisions for heart attacks, strokes, and vascular ruptures
- COVID-19 and important considerations regarding COVID even after the pandemic has subsided
Even those from agencies not covered by federal benefits (PSOB) will find the discussion helpful in understanding many aspects of line-of-duty death.
Finally, we will discuss the most challenging topic of suicide, new pertinent PSOB provisions, and how it should be treated for honors purposes.
We hope you will join us!
Register here