Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers' Ass'n v. County of Los Angeles

Opinion

ARMSTRONG, J.

Labor Code 1 section 4850 provides that when a public safety officer (like each plaintiff here) “is disabled, whether temporarily or permanently, by injury or illness arising out of and in the course of his or her duties, he or she shall become entitled ... to a leave of absence while so disabled without loss of salary . . . .” (Italics added.) The statute is part of the workers’ compensation law. Its purpose “is to provide special benefits to police, sheriffs, and firefighters. ‘The reason for such exceptional treatment for policemen and firemen is obvious: not only are…