An Orlando police officer who retired from the force when he was diagnosed with debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder after the 2016 Pulse nightclub attack has taken the city to court over lost wages.
Gerry Realin helped remove bodies from Pulse after the June 12, 2016 massacre that left 49 dead and dozens injured.
He ended up retiring due to PTSD related to that night, and was given a full disability pension from the city – worth approximately 80 percent of his salary – and free health care for life.
Regardless, Realin claims he is owed about $25,000 in lost wages, which the city is refusing to pay.
Realin’s attorney claimed Monday that the city wasn’t paying because state law doesn’t force it too, not because his client doesn’t deserve the money.
“The city could have, at any time, simply paid to this family the lost wage benefits and taken care of them the way they should have,” attorney Geoff Bichler said.
Following a hearing Monday, the judge in the case declined to make a decision, which left the future of Realin’s claim up in the air.
His wife, Jessica, said it was difficult sitting in court hearing the defense attorneys attack her husband.
“You’re sitting there and you’re watching them pick apart a person, and this person served this community for 13 years, proudly,” she said. “I don’t think this is what the City Beautiful should stand for.”
Bichler said Gerry and Jessica Realin plan to continue their fight for lost wages against the city.
#BREAKING: The judge didn’t rule in former @OrlandoPolice officer Gerry Realin’s PTSD case. He took it “under advisement.” Realin’s attorney described the meeting as “contentious.” Realin is seeking wage compensation for PTSD. #WFTV pic.twitter.com/qJV0SZXqnA
— Mike Manzoni (@MManzoniWFTV) December 18, 2017
Cox Media Group
