By Kevin Bouffard
THE LEDGER
September 2, 2008

LAKE HAMILTON | Town officials are locked in an $8,300 dispute with its Workers' Compensation insurance company over sick pay for Chief of Police Edward Freeman.

Freeman injured his right knee on Dec. 31 while moving boxes in the department's evidence room. He said the injury required knee-replacement surgery in April.

But the town's Workers' Compensation insurer, Preferred Government Insurance Trust of Lake Mary, has so far denied paying medical or loss-of-income claims because the injury arose from a pre-existing condition, Town Clerk Jacque Henderson said.

"I don't think Workers' Compensation treated me fairly," Freeman said.

The insurance company did not return calls last week and Tuesday from The Ledger.

The company's position is based on arthroscopic surgery Freeman had on his right knee about 10 years, Henderson and the chief said.

It has declined to pay the medical bills for the April surgery or for about 350 hours of sick time Freeman spent while recovering.

The chief's medical costs were paid by the city's health insurer, United Health Care, Freeman said.

The Town Council last month agreed to pay about $8,300 in unpaid sick leave pending the appeal to insurance company officials on the denial.

Freeman's annual salary is $49,400. He supervises a department with six full-time officers, a reserve officer and a secretary.

The chief disputes that the 10-year-old operation had anything to do with the Dec. 31 injury because he had no problems with his right knee afterwards.

Henderson agreed the insurance company was not treating Freeman or the town fairly. She expressed frustration in dealing with the company because officials don't return phone calls promptly.

Henderson told the council last month that Lake Hamilton should explore switching to another Workers' Compensation insurer because of the problems in handling Freeman's claim.

Freeman has 31 years with the Lake Hamilton Police Department, the last 23 years as chief. Before joining Lake Hamilton, he worked for three years at the Davenport Police Department.