Ryan v. State

Line of Duty Compensation awards have been granted to officers who died while on-duty but were engaged in physical activities outside the scope of their job. For example, in Ryan v. State (1994), 46 Ill.Ct.Cl. 321, this court granted an award when an on-duty police officer suffered a fatal heart attack while playing basketball in the department gymnasium. In granting the award, the court relied on testimony that indicated that the physical fitness was important to the deceased because the Department indicated physical fitness was necessary for its officers. Id. at 322.