Delaware § 8815 - Eligibility for disability pension.

§ 8815. Eligibility for disability pension.

(a) A member who suffers a partial or total disability resulting from an individual and specific act, the type of which would normally occur only while employed as a police officer/firefighter, shall be eligible for a duty-connected disability pension. If such act involves a traumatic event which directly causes an immediate cardiovascular condition which results in partial or total disability, the member shall be eligible for a partial or total duty-connected disability pension.

(b) A member with 5 years of credited service who suffers a partial or total disability and who is not eligible for a duty-connected disability pension shall be eligible for an ordinary partial or total disability pension.

(c) The determination of disability and its cause shall be made by the Board, or, if so delegated by the Board, by the Executive Secretary, after review of medical documentation submitted by the applicant, in the form required by the Board.

(d) For the purposes of this section, whether a member is employed as an on-duty police officer or on an authorized special duty function, the following duties shall be presumed to occur only while employed as a police officer without limiting the scope of acts embraced by subsection (a) of this section:

(1) Engaging in a high-speed chase;

(2) Effecting an arrest (criminal or traffic);

(3) Pursuing a suspect (criminal or traffic);

(4) Patrolling (criminal or traffic);

(5) Directing traffic or removing traffic hazards;

(6) Assisting a civilian, for example, a motorist alongside of the highway or rendering aid in a life-threatening situation (fire, drowning);

(7) In-service training other than physical fitness;

(8) Performing police functions at a crime scene or in connection with the investigation thereof; or

(9) Being assaulted whether by a suspect, detainee, arrestee, prisoner or mental patient.

64 Del. Laws, c. 445, §  1;  67 Del. Laws, c. 327, §  4;  70 Del. Laws, c. 389, §  1;  82 Del. Laws, c. 87, § 6;  83 Del. Laws, c. 286, § 2;