Police Officer’s Widow denied workers comp claim

The line of duty death claim for a Lebanon Police Officer who died in December after contracting COVID-19, has been denied by the worker’s comp insurance company for the City of Lebanon. Lebanon Mayor Jared Carr said he received word today, after the company called Lebanon Police Officer Kendal Blackburn’s widow informing her that they didn’t consider his death a line of duty death.

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Mayor Carr said the City will be consulting legal counsel to see how to proceed, but until then Mrs. Blackburn is left to contend with expenses.  In April 2020, Missouri Governor Mike Parson issued a ruling saying that worker’s compensation should cover all first responders who have contracted COVID-19 or were in quarantine because of it.  The claim for Officer Blackburn isn’t the only line of duty death workman’s comp claim for a Police Officer that has been denied. Initially the Workers Comp Company for the City of Kennett wouldn’t allow the claim to be filed, for Police Major Rick Groves who died from complications of COVID-19.  That insurance company since began reviewing a claim which was filed by the City.