Tighter police disability pension rules take effect in Montgomery

Montgomery County police officers seeking disability pensions will face new rules today when changes voted on by the County Council go into effect — though without a provision that critics say is necessary for “meaningful reform.”

After months of debate over a system that awarded 62 percent of retiring officers a disability pension during a recent three-year period, the County Council in May approved changing the makeup of the medical panel that reviews cases and other procedural changes that were previously agreed upon by County Executive Ike Leggett and the Fraternal Order of Police union.