104 Neb. 260 | Neb. | 1920
This is a claim under the workmen’s compensation act. Frank Rooney, while performing the duties of a policeman in the city of Omaha, was feloniously shot January 80, 1918, and as a result died the next day.. The claimant for compensation is his widow. The district court allowed her $1,140, and in addition $12 a week for 350 weeks and $200 for the expenses of .his last illness and
It is contended on behalf of the city of Omaha that it is not liable to claimant under the workmen’s compensation act. A class of employees and workmen protected by the statute is described as follows:
“Every person in the service of the state or of any governmental agency created by it, under any appointment or contract of hire, express or implied, oral or written, but shall not include any official of the state, or any governmental agency created by it, who shall have been elected or appointed for a regular term of office, or to complete the unexpired portion of any regular term.” Rev. St. 1913, see. 3656 (Laws 1917, ch. 85, sec. 5).
The city of Omaha in its control over the police department is a governmental agency of the state, Frank Rooney, when assaulted was in the service of -the city as a policeman at a salary of $125 a month. He was at the time attempting to uphold the law. He had been required to take an oath of office and to give an official bond. Rev. St. 1913, secs. 4171, 4208. Statutes and judicial opinions refer to policemen as officers. Rev. St. 1913, secs. 4171, 4208, 5300; State v. City of Lincoln, 101 Neb. 57. By appointment or election Rooney was a public officer. Rev. St. 1913, sec. 5300; Blynn v. City of Pontiac, 185 Mich. 35; Schmitt v. Dooling, 145 Ky. 240, 36 L. R. A. n. s. 881, and note. The duties of a municipal police officer in enforcing the laws are governmental in character. Gillespie v. City of Lincoln, 35 Neb. 34. In Adams v. City of Omaha, 101 Neb. 690, it was said:
“There can be no doubt that the state, because of the interest that the state at large has in enforcing the laws and in protecting property from fire, has jurisdiction over the police and the fire department.”
Claimant insists, however, that her husband was not an official, appointed “for a regular term of office,” within the meaning of the exception to the statutory provision declaring that employees and workmen shall include
Reversed and dismissed.