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All of the benefit information below has been complied by COPS, a support group for police survivors.
Rev. 03/05
STATE OF OREGON
DEATH BENEFITS
To obtain certified copies of registered personal documents, contact the Vital Records Unit,
P. O. Box 116, Portland, OR 90727, phone (503) 229-5710.
STATE DEATH BENEFITS
Effective October 24, 1999, the Public Safety Memorial Fund Board is established to oversee
benefits that the spouse and child(ren) of a public safety officer killed in the line of duty may
receive. When a public safety officer, either employed or volunteer, is killed in the line of
duty, The Public Safety Memorial Fund Board may pay $25,000 to the person designated on
the beneficiary form that is to be provided by the agency employing or utilizing on a volunteer
basis the public safety officer. Direct written inquiries about this benefit to the
Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, 550 North Monmouth Avenue,
Monmouth, OR 97361.
STATE PENSION BENEFITS
The Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) is the organization responsible
for administering all member benefits. Members are encouraged to make an appointment
before coming in for counseling at the PERS main office. Simply call PERS and ask the
receptionist to connect you with the appointment counselor. The counselor will take the
information necessary to prepare for the interview. If possible have your retirement number
ready and set up a date and time. Contact the main office of PERS, 1099 S.W. Columbia
Street, Open Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mailing Address: Box 73,
Portland, OR 97207-0073; from the Portland area, call #229-5824.
Death Benefits: If you die before retirement, your beneficiary will receive a lump-sum
refund of your account balance. That refund includes all your contributions, plus interest
earned to the date of your death.
Your beneficiary will also receive a lump-sum payment equal to your account balance if:
1. You are employed by a participating employer at the time of
your death, or
2. You are on an official leave of absence at the time of your death,
or
3. You die as the result of injuries sustained while you were
OR
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employed, or
4. You die within 120 days after termination of employment with a
participating employer.
If your beneficiary is your spouse, he or she may elect to receive a monthly payment for life
instead of a lump-sum payment.
EDUCATION BENEFITS
State Scholarship Commission
The Governor of Oregon signed legislation on July 10, 1997, to provide scholarships to the
surviving children of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
Section 1. ORS 348.270 (1) In addition to any other scholarships provided by law, the
State Scholarship Commission shall award scholarships in any state institution
under the State Board of Higher Education, in the Oregon Health Sciences
University, in any community college operated under ORS chapter 341, or in any
Oregon-based regionally accredited independent institution, to any student
applying for enrollment or who is enrolled therein, who is the natural, adopted or
stepchild of any public safety officer who, in the line of duty, was killed.
(2) Scholarships awarded under this section to students who are dependents of public
safety officers shall equal the amount of tuition and all fees levied by the
institution against the recipient of the scholarship. However, scholarships awarded
to students who attend independent institutions shall not exceed the amount of
tuition and all fees levied by the University of Oregon.
(3) If the student who is the dependent of a deceased public safety officer continues to
remain enrolled in a state institution of higher education or a community college or
an independent institution within the State of Oregon, the student shall be entitled
to renewal of the scholarship until the student has received the equivalent of four
years of undergraduate education and four years of post-graduate education.
Applicants should call 1-800-452-8807 and ask for the Grants section for information on the
Deceased and Disabled Public Safety Officers Grant. Applicants must complete the
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). When applying, applicants should also
ask for any other grants for which they may qualify.
POLICE CORPS SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
The Police Corps is administered by the Office of the Police Corps and Law Enforcement
Education (OPCLEE), within the Office of Justice Programs, US Department of Justice, in
partnership with participating States that have submitted an approved State Plan. Information
can be found at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/opclee.
OR
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Rev. 03/05
The Police Corps awards scholarships and reimburses educational expenses to students who
agree to work in a State or local police force for at least four years. Students must pursue an
undergraduate or graduate degree in a course of study which, in the judgment of the State or
local police force to which the participant will be assigned, includes appropriate preparation
for police service. Police Corps funds cover education expenses (including tuition, fees,
books, supplies, transportation, room and board, and miscellaneous expenses) up to $7,500
per academic year, with a limit on total payments to any student of $30,000.
Police Corps scholarship funds are also available to dependent children of law
enforcement officers killed in the line of duty if the death occurred in the state after that
state was approved to participate in the Police Corps program. In Oregon, the death
must have occurred since August 1996. These scholarships may be applied to any course
of study, without any service or repayment obligation.
Police Corps participants are selected on a competitive basis by each State under regulations
prescribed by OPCLEE.
For more information, contact: Oregon Police Corps, 24751-B SE Hwy 224, Boring OR
97009, phone 503-637-5370 or 800-848-3957, fax 503-637-5376 Fax, email
vmiller@oregonpolicecorps.org , or visit www.oregonpolicecorps.com.
The Public Safety Memorial Fund
Established October 24, 1999, the Public Safety Memorial Fund Board may award
scholarships to surviving spouses and children for an undergraduate degree. In determining
the amount of a scholarship, the board shall consider the applicant's financial need, the funds
available in the Public Safety Memorial Fund, and the anticipated demands on the fund. The
board may not grant a scholarship in an amount exceeding the highest tuition charged by a
state institution of higher education for an undergraduate program. Direct written inquiries
about this benefit to the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, 550
North Monmouth Avenue, Monmouth, OR 97361.
HEALTH BENEFITS
O.R.S. 243.005 requires that every police officer in service of a public employer in the State
of Oregon be issued a life insurance certificate in the amount of $10,000 on his life, covering
death caused by "injury or disease" sustained during working hours as a police officer,
firefighter or volunteer firefighter, or death resulting from such an "injury or disease" within
365 days. This coverage shall be provided by the public employer at no expense to each
police officer, firefighter, and volunteer firefighter not later than July 1, 1973.
OR
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The Department of General Services developed the specifications for this job related
occupational disease and injury coverage. Competitive bids were received. Western Life
Insurance Co. (one of The St. Paul Companies), St. Paul, Minnesota, was awarded the
insurance contract through Alexander and Alexander Company Portland, Oregon.
In addition to providing the required coverage, an option is available for each police officer,
firefighter, or volunteer firefighter to expand the job related occupational disease and injury
death benefits to full Group Term Life Insurance. In addition, an option to purchase
Dependents Life Insurance is also available. The additional premium for these coverages
will be paid by the employee through the public employer.
Check with your local department to find out what insurance plan you are eligible to
receive benefits from.
The Public Safety Memorial Fund Board
Established October 24, 1999, the Board shall award benefits to the spouse and each child of a
public safety officer killed in the line of duty in an amount sufficient to allow the spouse and
children to purchase health and dental insurance comparable to that provided by the public
safety officer. The benefit for the spouse will continue for five years or until the spouse
remarries, whichever occurs first. The benefits for the child(ren) continue until the age of 18
or, if the child is attending school, until the age of 23. Direct written inquiries about this
benefit to the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, 550 North
Monmouth Avenue, Monmouth, OR 97361.
MORTGAGE BENEFIT
Established October 24, 1999, the Public Safety Memorial Fund Board may award to the
spouse of a public safety officer killed in the line of duty an amount up to the equivalent of 12
monthly mortgage payment on the residence of the spouse if there is no mortgage insurance to
cover the cost. Direct written inquiries about this benefit to the Department of Public
Safety Standards and Training, 550 North Monmouth Avenue, Monmouth, OR 97361.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Workers' Compensation coverage is compulsory for employers in Oregon.
The maximum weekly benefit ranges from $319.38 to $638.58 according to the number of
dependents. Spouse receives $150 a month per child for each of two children, and $50 a
month for each additional child, subject to the monthly maximum benefit. Maximum burial
allowance is $3,000.
OR
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Two-year lump sum payable to the spouse upon remarriage and weekly benefits cease.
Children receive benefits until age 18 or beyond age 18 if disabled, or until age 23 if fulltime
students. If the surviving spouse dies before all children are age 18, child(ren)
under 18 receives $400 a month until age 18.
To receive workers' compensation benefits the surviving spouse must take the initiative and
file a workers' compensation claim through a workers' compensation attorney to receive any
compensation. The determination as to whether the claim will be paid will be determined by
the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board.
Contact the Workers' Compensation Division, Department of Insurance and Finance,
201 Labor and Industries Building, Salem, OR 97310, telephone (503) 378-3303.
PERSONAL LIFE POLICIES
Prior to 9-27-87, net estate passes half to surviving spouse, half to issue by representation.
Effective 9-27-87 if all surviving issue are also issue of surviving spouse, all to spouse. If all
surviving issue are not also issue of spouse, half to spouse, half to issue by representation. If
no issue all to spouse, and vice versa. If no spouse or issue, estate descends in following
order: Surviving parents; brothers and sisters equally if of equal degree of kinship, if no
surviving brother or sister issue of brothers and sisters equally if of equal degree of kinship, by
representation if not.
Taking by "representation" accomplished as follows: Estate divided into equal shares for
surviving heirs of nearest degree of heirship and deceased persons of same degree with
surviving issue, each surviving heir of nearest degree receiving one share and share of
deceased person of same degree being decided among such person's issue in same manner.
If married, surviving parents or grandparents take as tenants by entirety (as to real property) or
joint tenants with right of survivorship (as to personal property); otherwise as tenants in
common.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
Established in 1984, Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (COPS), is a national, non-profit
organization that works with law enforcement agencies, police organizations, mental health
professional, and local peer-support organizations to provide assistance to surviving families
of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. COPS has become a "lifeline" to police
survivors nationwide. For more information or to find out about meeting dates and times
contact Oregon COPS, Mr. Jim Knapp, President, 20947 SW 84th Avenue, Tualatin, OR
97062, 503-885-9585, tm2963@aol.com.
All of the benefit information above has been complied by COPS, a support group for police survivors.
Contact the National Office of Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. for additional information, or to support any of COPS' programs.
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Web site copyrighted © 2005 by Lydia Warner Miller