Injured cops fight for health benefits

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Despite suffering career-ending injuries on the job, the city of Charlotte’s benefits administrator has denied claims for treatment and disability pay, current and former Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers said Wednesday.

Tara Stottlemyer, a 15-year CMPD veteran, said a December 2006 injury forced her to retire.

When she learned the city would not pay for medical treatment and disability benefits, Stottlemyer said she began a long legal battle, which could end in court.

“I was forced into a corner and had to hire an attorney,” she said in a meeting with reporters Wednesday morning.

Wednesday’s news conference was organized by the April Five organization.

The non-profit was founded this spring by Heidi Hazrati. Her husband, Kayvan, was critically wounded in April 2006 after he was shot in the head while attempting to serve a rape warrant. He recovered but was forced to file for medical retirement.

The Hazratis have said they’ve also been denied medical treatment by the city’s benefits administrator.

Heidi Hazrati said Wednesday their case is heading to trial.

“Common sense and common decency tells you when a police officer puts his life on the line you take care of him when it goes wrong,” said Scott Geiler, a trustee with the Fraternal Order of Police.

Geiler, whose organization represents 1,500 CMPD officers, said he is aware of dozens of disputes involving injured officers who have not received disability payments or reimbursements for medical claims.

Hazrati said she had contacted city council members to inquire on workman’s compensation policy but had not received a reply Wednesday morning.

John Lassiter, an at-large council member, said he asked city manager Curt Walton to research the officer’s complaints.

City spokesperson Kim McMillan said state law, not city council, regulates disability benefits and workman’s compensation claims.