The death of Donald “Donnie” Young, the first officer killed while working an off-duty job, is being classified as being in the line of duty, city officials said Monday.
Young’s wife and dependents therefore will be eligible to apply for federal death benefits, Police Chief Gerry Whitman said Monday.
The chief said that Young’s death appeared to be connected to a police action he took earlier in the evening when he ejected a man from an event.
The question of workers’ compensation benefits was answered Monday when city officials announced that the death of Young and injuries to officer John “Jack” Bishop on Sunday will be treated as work-related.
State law provides that Detective Young’s widow, Kelly, and his dependents, who police officials said include the couple’s two daughters and Young’s son from another relationship, are entitled to receive 66 percent of his average weekly wage, up to 91 percent of the state maximum.
Kelly Young will receive the benefit for life unless she remarries, City Attorney Cole Finegan said. Detective Young’s children will receive benefits until they reach 18.
The collective bargaining agreement between the City and County of Denver and the Police Protective Association provides that the city will contribute up to $10,000 toward funeral and burial expenses.
Kelly Young may also be eligible for payments from other police organizations and the Social Security Administration.
Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said officers are permitted to work the extra jobs, as long as the total time worked in the regular shift and the additional jobs doesn’t exceed 64 hours a week.
Most officers in the department work off-duty jobs to supplement their regular income.
“Everybody does it,” said Sgt. Dave Williams, a 30-year veteran. “We don’t get paid enough.”
Businesses are not required to hire officers, Jackson said, and such agreements are entered into by the officer or the city.
Any agreement has to be approved by the Police Department, Jackson said, and include a contract drawn between the department and the employers.
Officers working at establishments that serve alcohol must be in full uniform, including their firearms.
Bulletproof vests are at the officer’s discretion, Jackson said.
Young was not wearing a vest when he worked a private party at Salon Ocampo on Saturday.
Police credit one for saving the life of his partner that night, Bishop.
Young worked regularly at Salon Ocampo.
Certain bars and clubs are off-limits to off-duty work because of incidents or because a public nuisance case has been filed against the establishment.
The city’s decision to treat Young’s shooting and Bishop’s injuries as work-related differs from the case of Denver sheriff’s Deputy George Gatchis, who was off-duty Nov. 18 when he tried to save a baby by running into a burning home in Aurora.
Because he wasn’t on duty at the time, his workers’ compensation claim was denied.
Friends and co-workers with the Police Protective Association and Local 858 of the Denver firefighters union raised money to pay his medical bills.
Staff writers Sean Kelly, Katy Human and Kris Hudson contributed to this report.
