The number of police officers and firefighters collecting injury benefits in the City of Buffalo is a continuing concern.
Members of the police force who are unable to work due to injury, and not always on-duty injuries, can actually make more money staying at home than being on the job. The Buffalo News reports that in 2011 such cases cost local taxpayers more than $200,000 per week. Last week, the department listed 45 officers who were on the full injured-on-duty list, collecting benefits but unable to work.
As a means of curbing abuse of the system, the city and the Police Benevolent Association have agreed to allow an arbitrator to consider cases and to determine an officer's ability to return to work.
