The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1953-11-19
IS lid Injured City Employees Lose ANY Pay?
by II. S. Douglas

they duty injuries
line of duty.
Because have made practice acquaning myself with all
the facts before writing about it, have interviewed the
Mayor director Park Geger commissioned Edwin Guh
Captain Mr. Oinger Kenneth Mclaughlin
the writing the law; well
ea members the police force and here the facts resulting from
those
The City of Hagerston Self Insured Agency under the
provisions the Maryland Industrial Accident
empowered handle its providing that the city
plies with least the minimum requirements of the commission
There nothing however the law that prohibits the city
going beyond the minimum requirements if they desire
Two of the provisions of the State Act follows:
Pay employees injured the line of duty shall
until the fourth day of such injury This that under
that provision injured employees would lose the first three days
right here despite published
contrary, single employee City has gone without
for the first three days he disabled the line of duty
the city having chosen beyond this provision the law
members Police Force within
required be off duty days. docked for those days
My investigation shows that this What actually hap
pened that for those days the police officer paid the
$32 90 week. the required under the That
accounted for the smaller check for that particular period
Under the employees the pay schedule of the Police
Department, be paid minimum wage of 5000 week
However, l beginning editorial there is
nothing the State Act the City of Hagerstown from
going beyond the minimum pay requirements they desire
For past all employees of the city, injured the line
duty with the exception of the Police and Fire Departments have
been receiving accordance with the requirements of
the law and effective October 1853 the personnel director with
approval the Board of Public Works. ordered that the Police
and Fire Departments also under the minimum rule
and that is what has brought the discussion
is perfectly that the members of the Police Force and
the Fire Department are in what is usually termed as hazardous o
cupaon also that the applies the nemen of the
Municipal Light Plant and probably other departments we'll
Frankly do believe giving any special privileges any
the C employees but by the token do believe
any employee City Hagerstovn should financially
penalized when he is injured in the line of duty.
Further believe that Board of Public Works should
mend the Mayor and Council that the minimum payment pro-
the Accident Law be sregarded that
all employees of the City injured the line of duty shall receive
their full of until such time they able back
to work
In talking Mel aughln regarding this he told
the Mayor and Council has the full to the what
they wish and that all the Council has
Ordinance to that effect
perfectly that when employee injured, all his
medical bills including hospital that necessary paid by the
City under the and it also that the event of
injury of any lump settlement made by the City The
the lump settlement to be paid however determined
by the State and not by the City.
Regardless of this however believe that every fair minded
will with that when earning let IS 90
injured the line of duty and Immediately finds his pay
reduced $500 month (h the minimum of
$32 90 week., that well his family the victims
of a injustice.
have been informed by Mr. Burhans that he has requested
Public Works call special meeting discuss
for employees injured the line of duty and make their
Mayor Council and
this special meeting will be held this afternoon. feel perfectly
that of that meeting and subsequent meeting of the
Mayor and Council this will be cleared up
to the satisfaction of all concerned.
No is going make believe that the governing
body of the City of Hagerson going allow any its
pyes be financially penazed because of beyond
the employees control.
In conclusion let add this The employees. the other