The number of Montgomery County police officers who started receiving taxpayer-funded disability payments nearly doubled last fiscal year, according to a new report. The study released by Montgomery CountyStat, the jurisdiction’s data-driven oversight agency, shows that 18 police officers received new disability pay, up from 10 the year before. And 20 percent more employees overall were awarded disability.

For years, county officials have complained the system shells out millions of dollars to able-bodied employees — they recently passed legislation altering the medical panel that reviews the cases — and say lack of oversight casts a shadow over legitimate claims.