Cop denied benefits for Sandy rescue injuries goes to court
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York's highest court is hearing arguments in the case of a police officer who was denied state disability retirement benefits after being injured while rescuing a family during Superstorm Sandy.
Orangetown Police Officer James Kelly suffered neck and shoulder injuries in October 2012 as he helped a family trapped in its collapsing Rockland County home. With one resident dead and conditions delaying the arrival of rescue crews, Kelly was hurt as he removed debris off injured and residents and deflected a falling rafter.
A lower court upheld the state's denial of his application for accidental disability retirement, saying his injuries were a result of "risks inherent to being a police officer.