OFFICER ENTITLED TO BENEFITS

Circuit Court upheld an administrative decision awarding health insurance benefits to city police officer under section 10 of Public Safety Employee Benefits Act. Hearing officer found that police officer slipped on ice and fell and sustained catastrophic injuries while investigating “a possible criminal act”. Hearing officer found credible police officer’s testimony that he was walking from parking lot to the police station to investigate whether someone was portraying himself as the chief of police and was abusing the 911 system. Hearing officer did not clearly err by finding police officer entitled to health insurance benefits on basis that his injuries occurred during the investigation of a criminal act. (HOLDER WHITE and HARRIS, concurring.) City of Charleston v. System of Administrative Hearing of the City of Charleston, 2019 IL App (4th) 180634 (April 11, 2019) Coles Co. (CAVANAGH) Affirmed.