As of November 29, 2007, OJP had made a total of 112 claim determinations, of which 47 were approvals and 65 were denials. Fifty-five of the 65 denied claims were denied because of a lack of evidence to demonstrate the decedents engaged in “nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical activity” as required by the Hometown Heroes Act. The following table summarizes the 55 public safety officers’ on-duty activities prior to their heart attack or stroke as listed in claims determinations and categorizes the activities by “reason for denial.” The remaining 10 of the 65 total denied claims are not included in the table because these claims were denied based on other eligibility requirements that did not require OJP to consider the nature of the officers’ activities.
| Reason for Denial |
Activities |
| The public safety officer conducted administrative duties only. |
Claim 1:
- Conducted administrative duties and attended meetings during his shift
- During the last meeting, made a presentation and appeared to be short of breath
- After the meeting was over he returned home where he experienced shortness of breath and complained of chest pain and was transported to the hospital
- Not on duty the day before
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Claim 2:
- Worked a regular shift involving only administrative duties
- Did not engage in any strenuous activity and died the following morning
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Claim 3:
- Attended a short meeting while on duty
- Returned to his office and resumed his daily tasks
- Yelled to the secretary that something was wrong and that he could not see
- Emergency medical responders stated that it appeared he was having a stroke
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| The public safety officer conducted administrative duties only. |
Claim 4:
- Attending a shift briefing when he fell to the floor, hit his head, shook, and had difficulty breathing
- Had only conducted administrative duties in the 24 hours prior to the heart attack
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Claim 5:
- Conducted administrative duties as a member of the warrant squad
- Logged new warrants and criminal summons, updated the database for warrants, and served three summonses, which involved driving to residences and having individuals sign forms
- Had approved leave to work as uniformed security at a bank that night
- Started work back at the station at 4 a.m. the next day and told others that he was going to focus on paperwork all day
- Not seen after 4:30 a.m. and was found dead approximately 16 hours later at 8:45 p.m. that evening
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Claim 6:
- Conducted administrative duties and did not respond to any calls for service in the 24 hours prior to his death
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| The public safety officer did not respond to a call and was not engaged in fire suppression or a situation, a rescue or a police emergency or response. |
Claim 7:
- Received no calls during the day
- Examined gear, conducted house duties, and engaged in physical fitness
- Heard lifting weights and was later found unconscious next to the rowing machine
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Claim 8:
- Reported to work after having several days off
- Under some stress because of possible evidence irregularities
- Discussed the issue with a co-worker, became agitated over the situation, and made several related phone calls
- May have felt ill, went home, and later collapsed
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| The public safety officer did not respond to a call and was not engaged in fire suppression or a situation, a rescue or a police emergency or response. |
Claim 9:
- Worked as a crew leader assisting citizens clearing land and chipping to reduce the fuel load in case of a wildfire
- Activity was regularly provided to residents and did not involve a high level of physical exertion
- Fell to his knees and lost consciousness while feeding trees into the chipper
- No other activities or training prior to the clearing and chipping
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Claim 10:
- Completed a walk test required by the department consisting of walking 1 mile in 16 minutes or less
- Completed the test in a little over 14 minutes and remarked that the test was taxing
- Went home and collapsed
- No other firefighter-related activity 48 hours prior to his death
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Claim 11:
- Last shift started at 7 a.m. and ended 24 hours later
- No calls for assistance during the shift and no activity other than an attempt to stop a fire hydrant from leaking
- Conducted weight lifting and a treadmill workout during his shift
- Stated that he was feeling ill and at home later that evening he had chest pains, trouble breathing, and lost consciousness
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Claim 12:
- Performed general maintenance and inspected the building and department vehicles
- Had complained of pain below the rib area when he arrived, but later said he felt fine
- Took a break at 11 a.m. and was found shortly after slumped over on a couch
- Had performed the same activities when on duty the day before
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| The public safety officer did not respond to a call and was not engaged in fire suppression or a situation, a rescue or a police emergency or response. |
Claim 13:
- Part of a team inspecting a motorcycle outlet
- Inspection involved examining every motorcycle including its parts to determine if they had been tampered with or stolen and examining all paperwork associated with each motorcycle
- Seized seven motorcycles
- Had a heart attack the next day while off duty and conducting yard work
- Engaged in no other law enforcement activity within the 24-hour period prior to his death
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Claim 14:
- Helped prepare the agency fire vehicles for a fellow firefighter’s funeral
- Served as part of the honor guard and attended the wake
- Next morning, he went to his regular place of employment at 5 a.m.
- Made a stop at a local store on his way to the fire station that evening and collapsed in the store parking lot
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Claim 15:
- Marched and played a bass drum during a parade representing the department
- Stepped away from the procession and sat down on the porch of a residence
- Got up to walk to a nearby ambulance and collapsed
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Claim 16:
- Was on call the evening before and day of his heart attack
- Covered the station for short periods of time while other officers responded to calls
- Attended the department’s board of trustees meeting and was chatting with other members at the apparatus bay after the meeting when he began to feel ill and was transported to the hospital
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| The public safety officer did not respond to a call and was not engaged in fire suppression or a situation, a rescue, or a police emergency or response. |
Claim 17:
- Worked an overtime shift with no alarms
- Called to cover the station 11 hours after finishing his shift because of an emergency natural gas odor response – he did not respond to calls
- Later participated in a basketball game and had a heart attack while sitting on a bench
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Claim 18:
- Worked on morning maintenance on the station’s three trucks with another firefighter
- This included a daily inspection of all equipment and apparatus, including removing and testing equipment
- Transported two smoke detectors to another station so they could be installed at a residence
- Returned and advised other firefighters that they needed to clean both vehicles
- Stated that he would drive one of the vehicles up the road to blow off some water and had a heart attack and veered off the road as he was driving back
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Claim 19:
- Worked a normal 10-hour shift
- Participated in union contract negotiations throughout the day
- Did not respond to any emergency calls within 24 hours of the heart attack
- Called the fire station from home indicating he was in medical distress and was transported to the hospital
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Claim 20:
- Was on the way to the station when call was canceled
- Assigned as standby at the station when another call came in for a refuse fire
- Complained of feeling ill to his wife in the evening and found unresponsive in bed the next morning
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| The public safety officer did not respond to a call and was not engaged in fire suppression or a situation, a rescue, or a police emergency or response. |
Claim 21:
- Unloaded bingo supplies at the station prior to working the department’s weekly fundraiser
- Complained of a severe headache, sat down on a truck, and was then loaded into an ambulance
- No calls for service in the 24 hours prior to the stroke
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| The public safety officer conducted regular correctional duties. |
Claim 22:
- Worked 16 hours at a correctional facility
- Assisted with food service and a pill call, made rounds, and worked the tunnel and industries
- Died the next day at home
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Claim 23:
- Engaged in routine activities, including searching and escorting prisoners and other related duties
- Suffered a heart attack while driving home at the end of his shift
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| The public safety officer conducted a regular patrol or traffic stop. |
Claim 24:
- Last two shifts were routine, and he engaged in usual road and foot patrol activities on his last shift
- Next day began showing signs of cardiac stress while talking to co-workers
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Claim 25:
- Conducted regular patrol checks and responded to reports of a couple arguing and teenage skate borders and bicyclists on campus property while on duty
- Later collapsed while watching a training video
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Claim 26:
- Responded to two calls in the 24 hours prior to his heart attack, one to assist and one in response to a report that a vehicle’s back window had been shattered
- Approximately a week earlier, he had reported feeling dizzy during a routine traffic stop
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Claim 27:
- Felt ill after completing a traffic stop on a routine patrol
- Asked his partner to drive him back to the station and later to pull over so that he could remove his vest to breathe easier
- Stepped out of the vehicle and collapsed
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| The training was not nonroutine and stressful or strenuous. |
Claim 28:
- Participated in a training drill that included donning personal protective equipment and lifting and checking breathing equipment
- Each apparatus weighed roughly 30 pounds
- Had a heart attack after returning home
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Claim 29:
- Started his shift early at approximately 3:30 p.m. to participate in physical training
- Suffered a heart attack at approximately 4:15 p.m. the same day
- Day before his death had been scheduled as a day off, but he helped escort property technicians from one city to a neighboring city and then returned home
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Claim 30:
- Had passed his physical exam and was certified to attend the mandatory basic training academy
- Engaged in warm-up exercises and then an indoor diagnostic run – during the 12th and final lap of the run, he collapsed
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Claim 31:
- Drove to various addresses within the fire district as part of map training
- In the afternoon, participated in pump operation training, but his activities were limited to checking the medical equipment and evaluating an electrical problem on the pumper
- Later, did some yard work, ate a meal, and watched TV before having a heart attack
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Claim 32:
- Attended an EMT assessment class
- Given instruction on lifting and moving patients and practiced CPR on mannequins
- Went home after the class and went to bed
- At 6 a.m. the following morning, he was gasping for breath
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| The training was not nonroutine and stressful or strenuous. |
Claim 33:
- Traveled to attend training
- Morning consisted of classroom training
- Afternoon was reserved for networking where participants were encouraged to engage in physical activity and the officer took a hike with others
- Collapsed on the trail
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Claim 34:
- Participating in a class at a correctional facility
- Collapsed while attempting to plug in a fan behind some training mats
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| The public safety officer prepared and tested a fire maze. |
Claim 35:
- Prepared and tested a fire training maze
- Conducted trial run of the maze and then collapsed upon completion
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| The public safety officer observed participants in a training session. |
Claim 36:
- Observed new hire testing on Saturday
- Helped set up several testing stations and visited stations to check on participant performance
- Only one call occurred over the weekend and he did not respond
- Following Monday a medical call was dispatched to the officer’s residence where he was found in cardiac arrest
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| The public safety officer had a heart attack or stroke while getting ready to respond to a call or before arriving at the scene. |
Claim 37:
- Reported that he was going to respond to a vehicle accident from his residence using his personal vehicle at 8:29 p.m.
- Found unconscious in his vehicle a few minutes later
- During the 24 hours prior, worked the 4 p.m. to midnight shift performing administrative duties, manning the volunteer station, and filling out paperwork
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| The public safety officer had a heart attack or stroke while getting ready to respond to a call or before arriving at the scene. |
Claim 38:
- Received a call concerning a residential fire at approximately 1:00 a.m.
- Donned his equipment and collapsed as he was getting into the driver’s seat of one of the fire vehicles
- Two days before, responded to three calls for service
- For two calls, arrived after the other fire vehicles had left, and he was not needed
- For the third call, involving a vehicle accident with no injuries, remained there on standby
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Claim 39:
- Responded to an explosion and fire in a residence’s detached garage that was less than a mile from his home
- Collapsed as he was getting out of his car
- This is the only work activity that he performed in the 24 hours prior to his death
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Claim 40:
- Worked a 24-hour shift that began at 7 a.m.
- Engaged in “routine firehouse duties” such as cleaning, studying, and checking the apparatus
- Conducted his mandatory physical fitness training by using the running machine
- During this activity, station received an alarm
- Reported to his truck, but was told he was not needed and collapsed soon after
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| The public safety officer responded to a call, but did not conduct any activities or actions. |
Claim 41:
- Dispatched from his residence to provide backup
- Arrived when the suspect was already in custody and he helped secure the scene, went to breakfast, and then went home
- Found a short time later in his bathtub unconscious
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| The public safety officer responded to a call, but did not conduct any activities or actions. |
Claim 42:
- Attended a training session that involved viewing several police satellite scenarios and discussing law enforcement procedures and policies
- After the training, received a call from his wife informing him that an ammonia pipeline break had occurred
- Received permission to assist in the operations
- Offered assistance at the scene, but none was needed
- Returned home and collapsed on the front lawn
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Claim 43:
- Responded to an EMS call the evening prior to his death
- Other emergency responders were already on the scene, so he left without undertaking any actions
- No other calls that day
- Suffered a heart attack next day while driving and struck another vehicle when he crossed the center line
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| The public safety officer responded to a call, but only conducted supervisory duties or no physical activities. |
Claim 44:
- Worked for approximately 3.5 hours conducting supervisory duties related to the set-up and maintenance of a helicopter landing and take-off zone
- Inspected the site and drove a truck
- Went home at 1:15 p.m. and there were no other calls for his firefighter services that day
- Was last seen alive that day at 11 p.m. and an ambulance was called the next morning
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Claim 45:
- Worked on a prescribed burn plan and then responded to a wildfire on the day of his heart attack
- At the scene, he walked the fire line, observed dozer operations and broadcasted the weather
- Later found 45 feet inside the fire line, partially burned and grasping a fire tool
- Determined he died of a heart attack before the fire reached his body and had not engaged in any fire suppression activities in the vicinity
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| The public safety officer responded to a call, but there was no emergency, law enforcement action, or emergency response. |
Claim 46:
- Worked a 12-hour overnight shift
- Responded to two calls not requiring police action
- Completed the shift at 6 a.m. and that same morning an ambulance was dispatched to his house
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Claim 47:
- Participated in normal activities and EMS calls during his 24-hour shift
- Conducted an apparatus check, engaged in a patient transfer, transported a patient to the hospital, and possibly took part in physical fitness activity
- Assisted with emergency medical care while transporting a patient to the hospital
- Not involved in any fire incidents
- Suffered a heart attack at the end of his shift
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Claim 48:
- Responded to three calls
- Two of the calls did not require agency resources
- At the third call, he spread absorbent materials to soak up fluids after vehicle accident
- Last seen alive that day at 11 p.m.
- Found dead in his home the following day in his work clothes
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| The public safety officer responded to a call, but it was a false alarm or the officer was told to turn around or did not proceed. |
Claim 49:
- Responded to a call regarding a vehicle fire
- En route, reported that the smoke was caused by leaking fluids instead of a fire and he returned to his residence
- This was the only call during the 24-hour period prior to the heart attack
- Next day he went to work at his regular place of employment and then drove to his sister’s residence where he felt ill and an ambulance was called
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| The public safety officer responded to a call, but it was a false alarm or the officer was told to turn around or did not proceed. |
Claim 50:
- Responded in full turnout gear to an alarm that turned out to be a false alarm
- Returned to the station, completed some paperwork, spoke with some colleagues, and went to his vehicle to drive home
- Found unconscious in the car
- Had responded to one other false alarm in the 24 hours prior to his death
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Claim 51:
- Began to respond to a call, but as fire engine was leaving the station, he was instructed not to proceed
- Once the fire engine returned to the station, he fell out of the driver’s side jump seat
- Had not been involved in any other response in the 24 hours prior to his heart attack
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Claim 52:
- Had a heart attack while driving to his regular job in construction
- Responded to only one 911 call the day before regarding the smell of smoke at a residence that was determined to be a false alarm
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Claim 53:
- Responded to a call in his personal vehicle, but on the way, all units were advised to return to quarters
- Went to a nearby EMS unit and stated that he was experiencing chest and arm pain
- Paramedic conducted an EKG, which appeared normal, so the officer returned home and was later found unresponsive
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| The public safety officer responded to a call, but activities were routine and not stressful or strenuous. |
Claim 54:
- Responded to three medical alarms involving routine activities and one vehicle accident with no injuries during an overnight shift that ended at 7 a.m.
- At 2 p.m. that day, he traveled to the local junior high school where he was an assistant coach
- Found at approximately 3:10 p.m. collapsed in the gym locker room
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| The public safety officer responded to a call, but activities were routine and not stressful or strenuous. |
Claim 55:
- Watched television after having returned from several calls that were all documented as routine in nature
- Started to have a seizure and then went into cardiac arrest
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