OFFICERS' HOSPITAL BILLS WILL BE PAID BY CITY

While two police officers struggle to recover from gunshot wounds, the city is taking care of them financially, said Cape Girardeau's human-resources director.

Sgt. Bradley Moore was hit in the left shoulder and Cpl. Keith May in the abdomen in a drug-related shootout Saturday at the Super 8 Motel on North Kingshighway. Moore was in surgery Tuesday to repair his shoulder. Both were listed in good condition, but officials don't know when either man will return to work.

Meanwhile, the community is pulling together to raise money for the two, in part through the Cape Girardeau Police Officers Association's Back the Blue campaign.

But the wounded officers aren't dependent on donations, numbers provided by Dan Ward, human-resources director for the city, show. Compensation amounts for Moore and May are mandated by state statute.

100 percent paid

Foremost, 100 percent of all of the officers' medical bills -- for treatment and recovery -- will be picked up by the city, Ward said. Should the officers opt for medical care in St. Louis, they will be reimbursed for their mileage. Also, should any treatment in St. Louis require overnight stays, the city will pick up their hotel bills.

"Even if they need six months of rehab under a doctor's care, they're going to get that. If they need more, they're going to get that," said Ward. "They're going to get whatever they need."

While unable to assume even a desk post, the officers are being paid a workers' compensation indemnity. Ward said this is a minimum of 66 percent of the officers' regular salary -- based on an average of their last 14 weeks of salary -- tax free, plus one-third of their sick pay, which is taxed.

For Moore, this means an estimated $650 per week, two-thirds of which is not taxable. Not factoring taxes, this is about $4,680 less than his annual salary.

And May will receive an estimated $552 per week, two-thirds of which is also not taxable. Not factoring taxes, this is about $3,994 less than his annual salary. Ward did not have exact figures for either officer.

Moore has been with the Cape Girardeau Police Department for 23 years and May for nearly 16 years.

Should the wounds prohibit either of the officers from returning to police work, the city will pay them minimum their full retirement, said Ward.

"The city does everything it can to take care of its people," he said.

The Back the Blue contributions campaign sends donations to a Bank of America fund that was established by the Cape Girardeau Police Officers Association, which is a tax-free entity independent of the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Money will be split

Detective Bill Bohnert of the association said the money raised will be split 50-50 between the Moore and May families. The money is intended for the families' expenses that fall outside what is covered by workers' compensation. "Unforeseen costs that we don't think about," said Bohnert.

Such expenses include the loss of overtime pay and lost spousal income, said the detective.

"They're going through hardships already," said Bohnert, "and more hardships are getting placed on them."

The drive raised more than $7,000 on Tuesday, according to KFVS, which collected money in front of the station's studio in the 300 block of Broadway and at Carbondale, Ill.