Legislation to protect the pension benefits of police officers injured while serving their community passed the House Banking Financial Services and Pensions Committee with a unanimous vote of 11-0 last week.

House Bill 3330, authored by Rep. David Perryman, D-Chickasha, would change the disability percentage for officers disabled as a result of a violent act while on duty to 100 percent.

“I appreciate the bipartisan support behind this bill,” Perryman said. “It is a shameful mark on the state that we would allow an officer to lose benefits due to being injured by a violent act while serving their community.”

During the committee meeting, Perryman introduced an amendment for the legislation to be named the “Sergeant Schoolfield Line of Duty Disability Act” after Chickasha Police Sergeant Matthew Schoolfield, who was seriously injured after being shot while serving a warrant.

“It was important to me that we honor Sergeant Schoolfield because, without his sacrifice and his family’s advocacy, we wouldn’t be addressing this problem that undoubtedly has affected other Oklahoma law enforcement officers,” Perryman said. “By turning this horrible situation into an opportunity to help others, I believe the Schoolfield’s represent the very best of Oklahoma.”