How is the AWE of active and reserve police officers for the purposes of TTD and TPD determined?

• A. Shall be taken as max
• B. Shall be taken as minimum
• C. Shall be taken as average
• D. Shall be taken as a fixed percentage of salary

Answer: (A)

Average Weekly Earnings used to set wage-replacement benefits for police under SIP is taken as the higher value between the AWE of active-duty officers and reserve officers. This max approach ensures the disability benefits reflect the officer’s greater earning capacity, avoiding underpayment when one status (often the reserve or the active duty with overtime and special assignments) yields higher earnings. Using the higher AWE aligns benefits with actual potential earnings and provides a fair, consistent basis for calculating TTD and TPD. Choosing a minimum or an average could understate the true earning capacity, while a fixed percentage would ignore actual earnings data.