Mahoning Township supervisors have denied a police officer’s request for heart and lung benefits as she continues to recover from COVID-19.

Before the board declined police officer Amie Barclay’s request on Wednesday, members heard an impassioned plea from one of her close friends.

Kate Polischak, a Carbon County 911 senior dispatcher, said she’s known Barclay for many years.

“I see what these police officers do on a daily basis,” said Polischak, adding officers not only risk injury, but also risk diseases.

Polischak told the board that Barclay is fighting to get back to her life after she already survived COVID-19.

“By voting against any of your police officers, that’s wrong because they come here every day and do things others don’t have the guts to do,” she said. “She is a fighter; back her up, support her.”

Polischak said she herself is currently going through her own battle with cancer, and added that the county has her back.

“They have done everything possible to support me,” she said. “Support your employees, support your first responders; their lives literally depend on you.”

The Pennsylvania Heart and Lung Act provides for wage and medical benefits for police officers and paid firefighters who are temporarily disabled due to an injury in the line of duty. It is a system that runs in parallel with workers’ compensation, but can in certain situations stand on its own.

Barclay told the board her livelihood depended on the board’s vote.

“My life is in your hands,” Barclay said. “If you vote no, I don’t have no paycheck.”

After an executive session, supervisors denied Barclay’s application for heart and lung benefits.

After the vote, an emotional Barclay expressed dismay with the board.

“I got COVID at work,” she said. “I got a brain bleed because of it.”

Board Chairman Robert Slaw told Barclay she has 99 days, and that she will be paid until September.

Township solicitor Tom Nanovic noted that Barclay can appeal to an arbitrator.

Slaw explained after the meeting the reason why the board denied her request.

“We felt we didn’t have enough information,” Slaw said.