LODD Criteria

Supporting Shields: Line-of-Duty Death Guidelines

The guidelines below explain how Supporting Shields determines if a death qualifies as a "line-of-duty" death for the purposes of our benefits and services. These guidelines aren't a one-size-fits-all and don't cover every possible situation. We look at each case individually, so if you're unsure about anything, please reach out to us, and we'll be happy to help.

Note: These guidelines are based on the federal government's Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) criteria, but they’re separate from the rules used by other organizations or programs, like the PSOB program or state and local memorials. Supporting Shields has the final say on whether a death qualifies under these criteria.

What is a Line-of-Duty Death?

A "line-of-duty death" (LODD) means someone’s life was cut short directly because of their public safety service. This is more than just dying on the job in uniform due to something unrelated to their work. For a death to be considered "line-of-duty" by Supporting Shields, there has to be clear proof that the person’s service directly contributed to the injury or illness that caused their death.

Who is Covered?

Supporting Shields helps public safety workers who are in jobs with higher risks, including:

  • Sworn law enforcement (including federal officers if the injury happens in our service area)
  • Fire/rescue workers (public and private)
  • EMS providers (public and private)
  • Corrections officers (public and private)
  • Officially recognized public safety chaplains who are responding to emergencies
  • People training in government-run law enforcement or fire academies (if attending on behalf of a public safety agency)

Workers in clerical, administrative, or support roles aren’t usually covered unless they meet certain rare conditions.

When Does a Death Count as Line-of-Duty?

For a death to qualify as "line-of-duty" for Supporting Shields’ benefits, it must be a direct result of an injury sustained while performing public safety duties. That injury could be a physical injury or illness like a heart attack, stroke, etc. This can happen while doing something like:

  • A specific job-related activity
  • Traveling to or from work (under certain conditions)
  • If the person’s job status or work actions led to the injury (including retaliation)

It’s important to know that a death caused by something unrelated to their duties (even if they’re on duty or in uniform) usually won't count as line-of-duty. For example, if someone dies while off-duty or doing something unrelated to their work, it generally wouldn’t be considered.

Heart Attacks, Strokes, and Similar Injuries

If a public safety worker suffers a heart attack, stroke, or similar condition that can be traced back to their duties, it can be classified as a line-of-duty injury. We understand that these injuries can sometimes happen hours after a stressful duty, so we follow the federal guidelines for cases like these.

Generally, if the injury happens within 24 hours of a particularly physically demanding job task, we’ll presume it’s related to their service. However, if medical evidence shows it’s unrelated, the presumption might not apply.

Commuting

If a public safety worker is commuting to or from work in a personal vehicle or department-issued vehicle, that’s generally not considered part of their duty. However, there are exceptions, like if they’re traveling for an emergency or mandatory extra duty (e.g., being called in for a special assignment, attending training, or going to court).

If they’re commuting back home after one of these duties, it could still count as "line-of-duty," as long as they’re not making personal stops along the way.

Status and Special Cases

An injury could also be considered "line-of-duty" if there’s convincing evidence that the person's role as a public safety worker was a major factor in the injury, or if the injury was retaliation for something they did on the job.

There’s also a special provision for people working in roles not normally covered by Supporting Shields. In rare cases, if the death can be tied to their association with a public safety agency, it might still qualify.

Off-Duty Actions

If a public safety worker acts in the line of duty while off-duty and gets hurt, that injury might be considered "line-of-duty." However, this depends on the agency’s policies and the specifics of the situation.

Disqualifying Factors

While most deaths will qualify for benefits, there are a few situations that could lead to a denial:

  • The death was caused by the worker's own intentional misconduct.
  • The worker meant to harm themselves.
  • The worker was voluntarily intoxicated.
  • The worker was grossly negligent in performing their duties.
  • Someone’s actions contributed to the worker’s death.

These factors won’t automatically lead to a denial, but we’ll review each case individually.

A Note About Suicide

We review cases of suicide on an individual basis, with each case being carefully considered by our Board of Trustees. In order for a suicide to be eligible for benefits, there must be a clear connection to the individual's work or it must occur during their shift.

In Summary

These guidelines are how we at Supporting Shields determine if a death qualifies as line-of-duty for our benefits. Every case is different, and we encourage anyone with questions to reach out directly so we can discuss the specifics of each situation.