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Zephyrhills pays officer for injuries on the job

He gets $10,000 in workers' compensation. By law, because of the settlement, he has left the Police Department.

By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published October 5, 2005

ZEPHYRHILLS - The city recently paid a $10,000 workers' compensation settlement to a police officer who was injured on the job.

Officer Kenneth Deweese was cleaning an accident scene on U.S. 301 just north of County Road 54 on Nov. 15, 2004, when he was struck by a car, police Chief Russell Barnes said Tuesday.

Deweese was sweeping up debris in front of his patrol car, which had its emergency lights activated, when Keith Alexander More of Lakeland drove around Deweese's car, struck him and knocked him down. Deweese was taken to an emergency room by ambulance, where he was treated and released.

His claim, filed in April, says he received neck and back injuries in the accident.

Neither Deweese's attorney nor the attorney for the city returned calls seeking comment.

Deweese left the Police Department on Sept. 7, which the law requires in a settlement.

But Barnes said Deweese had returned to work intermittently before resigning.

"I'm not sure how long he was out," Barnes said. "He was out at different times, but for most of that time since the accident and the time he resigned, he was back at work, either on light-duty status or full duty."

Of the $10,000, $1,750 was allocated for attorneys' fees.

Molly Moorhead covers news about Zephyrhills. She can be reached at 352 521-6521 or toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6521. Her e-mail address is moorhead@sptimes.com

[Last modified October 5, 2005, 12:26:18]