Jones v. Board of Trustees of the Police Pension Fund of the City of Bloomington ( 2008 )


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  •                             NO. 4-07-0687            Filed 9/15/08
    IN THE APPELLATE COURT
    OF ILLINOIS
    FOURTH DISTRICT
    PATRICK JONES,                         )   Appeal from
    Plaintiff-Appellee,          )   Circuit Court of
    v.                           )   McLean County
    THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE POLICE    )   Nos. 06MR243
    PENSION FUND OF THE CITY OF            )        06MR276
    BLOOMINGTON; an Illinois Administra-   )
    tive Agency and KAREN BAKER, DAN       )
    DONATH, CHARLES CROW, FRANK HAINES,    )
    and CURT OYER, Members of the Board    )   Honorable
    of Trustees,                           )   Charles G. Reynard,
    Defendants-Appellants.       )   Judge Presiding.
    _________________________________________________________________
    JUSTICE MYERSCOUGH delivered the opinion of the court:
    Plaintiff, Patrick Jones, applied to the Board of
    Trustees of the Police Pension Fund of the City of Bloomington
    (Board) for a disability pension pursuant to article III of the
    Illinois Pension Code (Pension Code) (40 ILCS 5/3-101 through 3-
    152 (West 2006)).   The Board denied Jones a line-of-duty disabil-
    ity pension but granted him a nonduty disability pension.
    In August and October 2006, Jones filed complaints for
    administrative review naming the Board and members of the Board--
    Karen Baker, Dan Donath, Charles Crow, Frank Haines, and Curt
    Oyer--all collectively referred to as "the Board," as defendants.
    On administrative review, the circuit court reversed
    the Board's decision.    The Board appeals, arguing that its
    decision to deny Jones a line-of-duty disability pension was
    proper because Jones was not disabled as the result of an injury
    incurred in the performance of an act of duty.    We disagree and
    affirm the circuit court's reversal of the Board's decision.
    I. BACKGROUND
    On February 24, 2006, Jones filed an application for
    disability benefits.    Jones alleged he could no longer perform
    full duties as a police officer due to an injury received in a
    automobile accident that occurred while Jones was on duty.
    On July 26, 2006, the Board held a hearing on the
    application.    At the hearing, the Board admitted into evidence
    the application for benefits, the notice of hearing, the job
    description for patrol officer, the employee-injury report, the
    Illinois traffic-crash report, the incident report, medical
    records, and the independent medical-examination reports from
    three doctors.
    Jones testified that he had been a patrol officer for
    the City of Bloomington for 12 years.    On June 13, 2005, at
    approximately 8 a.m., Jones was involved in a motor-vehicle
    accident.    Jones was on routine patrol in unit 51, the transport
    van, which Jones described as a one-ton Chevrolet van.    The
    record does not reflect whether the van was a marked police
    vehicle.    However, the accident report indicates the vehicle was
    black and white.
    When asked where he was headed when the accident
    - 2 -
    occurred, Jones testified:
    "I was going out towards Airport Road,
    which I believe they had complaints about
    some speeders or whatever.   I was just on
    routine patrol, just to investigate something
    of that nature."
    As Jones drove toward Airport Road, a man driving a Buick "shot
    out" in front of Jones' vehicle.    Jones made an evasive maneuver
    that kept from hitting the Buick broadside.     Due to oncoming
    traffic, however, Jones had to pull back into the right-hand
    lane.   The Buick then hit the side of the transport van.    Jones
    suffered injuries to his shoulder and back and later underwent
    back surgery.    The Board adjourned after the hearing.
    On August 30, 2006, Jones filed a complaint for admin-
    istrative review in McLean County case No. 06-MR-243.     The
    complaint alleged that the Board had not yet filed a decision on
    Jones' application for a line-of-duty disability pension.       The
    complaint further alleged that the president of the Board told
    Jones, ex parte, that the Board was granting Jones a nonduty
    disability pension.    Defendants filed as their answer a copy of
    the administrative record.
    On September 20, 2006, the Board issued its written
    decision.    The Board found Jones physically disabled for service
    in the police department so as to render necessary his retire-
    - 3 -
    ment.   The Board concluded, however, that Jones' disability was a
    nonduty disability pursuant to section 3-114.2 of the    Pension
    Code (40 ILCS 5/3-114.2 (West 2006)) rather than a line-of-duty
    disability pension (40 ILCS 5/3-114.1(a) (West 2006)).    The Board
    concluded, relying primarily on White v. City of Aurora, 323 Ill.
    App. 3d 733, 
    753 N.E.2d 1244
    (2001), that Jones was not entitled
    to a line-of-duty disability pension because driving a van did
    not involve a "special risk" as required by the definition of
    "act of duty."     As such, the Board awarded Jones a pension
    totaling 50% of his salary as opposed to the 65% he would have
    received from a line-of-duty disability pension.
    On October 19, 2006, Jones filed a second complaint for
    administrative review in McLean County case No. 06-MR-276.      This
    complaint alleged the Board issued its written decision on
    September 20, 2006, awarding Jones only a nonduty pension.      Jones
    sought reversal of the Board's decision and an award of a line-
    of-duty pension.
    In November 2006, defendants filed an answer in case
    No. 06-MR-276 and a motion to dismiss case No. 06-MR-243.    In
    February 2007, the parties stipulated and agreed to consolidate
    the two cases.   On February 19, 2007, the trial court consoli-
    dated the two cases.
    In July 2007, the trial court entered a written order
    reversing the Board's decision.    The court entered judgment for
    - 4 -
    Jones, finding him eligible for a line-of-duty pension.
    This appeal followed.
    II. ANALYSIS
    On appeal, the Board argues that its decision to deny
    Jones a line-of-duty pension was proper because Jones was not
    disabled as the result of an injury incurred in the performance
    of an act of duty.
    A. Standard of Review
    This court reviews the Board's decision, not the
    decision by the circuit court.     Marconi v. Chicago Heights Police
    Pension Board, 
    225 Ill. 2d 497
    , 531, 
    870 N.E.2d 273
    , 292 (2006).
    The parties dispute the appropriate standard of review.    The
    Board argues it was required to weigh the evidence and make
    factual determinations when considering whether Jones sustained
    his burden of proof to establish that his disability arose from
    an "act of duty."    Therefore, the Board argues, the manifest-
    weight-of-the-evidence standard is the appropriate standard of
    review.   Jones argues that where the relevant facts are undis-
    puted, and the dispute hinges on the term "act of duty," this
    court's review is de novo. .
    The applicable standard of review depends upon
    whether the issue presented is one of fact, one of law, or a
    mixed question of law and fact.     
    Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 532
    , 870
    - 5 -
    N.E.2d at 292.   This court will reverse a ruling on a question of
    fact only if it is against the manifest weight of the evidence.
    
    Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 532
    , 870 N.E.2d at 292-93.   Questions of
    law are reviewed de novo.    
    Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 532
    , 870
    N.E.2d at 293.   Mixed questions of law and fact are reviewed
    under the clearly erroneous standard.    
    Marconi, 225 Ill. 2d at 532
    , 870 N.E.2d at 293.
    Here, the issue is whether this case involves (1) the
    interpretation of the statutory term "act of duty," which re-
    quires de novo review, or (2) an examination of the legal effect
    of a given set of facts, which is a mixed question of law and
    fact requiring review under the clearly erroneous standard.     See
    Sarkis v. City of Des Plaines, 
    378 Ill. App. 3d 833
    , 836, 
    882 N.E.2d 1268
    , 1270 (2008) (examining whether an officer injured
    while lifting a malfunctioning railroad crossing gate was injured
    in the performance of an act of duty).   Under the clearly errone-
    ous standard, the reviewing court will reverse the administrative
    agency only where the court is "'left with the definite and firm
    conviction that a mistake has been committed.'" AFM Messenger
    Service, Inc. v. Department of Employment Security, 
    198 Ill. 2d 380
    , 395, 
    763 N.E.2d 272
    , 282 (2001), quoting United States v.
    United States Gypsum Co., 
    333 U.S. 364
    , 395, 
    92 L. Ed. 746
    , 766,
    
    68 S. Ct. 525
    , 542 (1948).
    Courts have generally held that when the facts are
    - 6 -
    undisputed, the interpretation of the term "act of duty" in the
    Pension Code is an issue of statutory construction to be reviewed
    de novo.      See 
    Sarkis, 378 Ill. App. 3d at 836
    , 882 N.E.2d at
    1270; 
    White, 323 Ill. App. 3d at 735
    , 753 N.E.2d at 1246 (where
    the facts are undisputed, and the Board interpreted the meaning
    of "act of duty" contained in the statute, the issue was one
    purely of statutory interpretation); Fedorski v. Board of Trust-
    ees of the Aurora Police Pension Fund, 
    375 Ill. App. 3d 371
    , 373,
    
    873 N.E.2d 15
    , 17 (2007) (finding the dispute hinged on the
    determination of "act of duty" and, therefore, de novo review
    applied); Alm v. Lincolnshire Police Pension Board, 
    352 Ill. App. 3d
    595, 598, 
    816 N.E.2d 389
    , 391 (2004) (de novo review applied
    where the facts were undisputed and the only issue was the
    meaning of "act of duty").      However, in Merlo v. Orland Hills
    Police Pension Board, No. 1-06-3729 (June 4, 2008),         Ill. App.
    3d       ,     , 
    890 N.E.2d 612
    , 615 (2008), on what appeared to be
    undisputed facts, the appellate court found that the issue of
    whether the police officer was performing an act of duty pre-
    sented a mixed question of fact and law, and therefore the
    clearly erroneous standard of review applied.     See also Provena
    Covenant Medical Center v. Illinois Department of Revenue, No. 4-
    07-0763, slip op. at 7 (August 26, 2008),         Ill. App. 3d      ,
    ,       N.E.2d    ,     (applying the clearly erroneous standard
    where the facts were undisputed and the question was whether
    - 7 -
    those facts entitled the plaintiff to an exemption under the
    Property Tax Code).
    This court tends to agree with the Merlo court, that an
    examination of the legal effect of a given set of facts presents
    a mixed question of fact and law, requiring the clearly erroneous
    standard of review.   See also City of Belvidere v. Illinois State
    Labor Relations Board, 
    181 Ill. 2d 191
    , 205, 
    692 N.E.2d 295
    , 302
    (1998).   However, under either the de novo or clearly erroneous
    standard, Jones is entitled to a line-of-duty pension.
    The primary consideration in construing a statute is to
    determine and give effect to the legislature's intent.     People v.
    Skillom, 
    361 Ill. App. 3d 901
    , 906, 
    838 N.E.2d 117
    , 122 (2005).
    A court must consider the statute in its entirety.     People v.
    Davis, 
    199 Ill. 2d 130
    , 135, 
    766 N.E.2d 641
    , 644 (2002).    "The
    most reliable indicator of legislative intent is the language of
    the statute, which, if plain and unambiguous, must be read
    without exception, limitation, or other condition."     
    Davis, 199 Ill. 2d at 135
    , 766 N.E.2d at 644.     "Pension statutes are to be
    liberally construed in favor of the pensioner."     Harroun v.
    Addison Police Pension Board, 
    372 Ill. App. 3d 260
    , 263, 
    865 N.E.2d 273
    , 277 (2007).
    B. Jones Is Entitled to a Line-of-Duty Pension
    1. Eligibility for Line-of-Duty Pension Depends
    Upon Whether the Officer's Injury Occurred as a Result
    of the Performance of an Act of Duty
    - 8 -
    Section 3-114.1(a) of the Pension Code provides for a
    pension equal to 65% of the officer's salary if the officer
    becomes disabled as a result of "the performance of an act of
    duty."   40 ILCS 5/3-114.1(a) (West 2006).    Specifically, section
    3-114.1(a) provides, in relevant part, as follows:
    "If a police officer as the result of
    sickness, accident[,] or injury incurred in
    or resulting from the performance of an act
    of duty, is found to be physically or men-
    tally disabled for service in the police
    department, so as to render necessary his or
    her suspension or retirement from the police
    service, the police officer shall be entitled
    to a disability retirement pension equal to
    *** 65% of the salary attached to the rank on
    the police force held by the officer at the
    date of suspension of duty or retirement." 40
    ILCS 5/3-114.1(a) (West 2006) (entitled "Dis-
    ability pension--Line of duty").
    If, however, a police officer "becomes disabled as a result of
    any cause other than the performance of any act of duty," he or
    she is entitled to a disability pension of 50% of the salary
    attached to the officer's rank on the police force at the date of
    suspension of duty or retirement.   40 ILCS 5/3-114.2 (West 2006)
    - 9 -
    (entitled "Disability pension--Not on duty").
    Something more than being "on duty" is required to
    receive a line-of-duty pension.     
    Sarkis, 378 Ill. App. 3d at 837
    ,
    882 N.E.2d at 1271 ("An officer does not perform an 'act of duty'
    merely by being on duty at the relevant time").    Although article
    III of the Pension Code, pertaining to police pension funds in
    municipalities with populations under 500,000, does not contain a
    definition of "act of duty," article V of the Pension Code,
    pertaining to police pension funds in municipalities with popula-
    tions exceeding 500,000, does.    See 40 ILCS 5/5-113 (West 2006).
    The act-of-duty definition contained in article V of the Pension
    Code applies to the use of that term in article III.    See Robbins
    v. Board of Trustees of the Carbondale Police Pension Fund, 
    177 Ill. 2d 533
    , 541, 
    687 N.E.2d 39
    , 43-44 (1997).    Section 5-113
    defines "act of duty" as follows:
    "Any act of police duty inherently in-
    volving special risk, not ordinarily assumed
    by a citizen in the ordinary walks of life,
    imposed on a policeman by the statutes of
    this State or by the ordinances or police
    regulations of the city in which this
    [a]rticle is in effect or by a special as-
    signment; or any act of heroism performed in
    the city having for its direct purpose the
    - 10 -
    saving of the life or property of a person
    other than the policeman."     40 ILCS 5/5-113
    (West 2006).
    Not all police functions involve "special risk."     See,
    e.g., Morgan v. Retirement Board of the Policeman's Annuity &
    Benefit Fund, 
    172 Ill. App. 3d 273
    , 277, 
    526 N.E.2d 493
    , 496
    (1988) (holding that an officer who was injured in fall from
    chair while taking a police report at the front desk of the
    police station was not entitled to line-of-duty pension because
    the act of taking a police report did not involve a special risk
    not ordinarily assumed by an ordinary citizen).     However, "spe-
    cial risk" is not limited to "'inherently dangerous' activities."
    Johnson v. Retirement Board of the Policemen's Annuity & Benefit
    Fund, 
    114 Ill. 2d 518
    , 521, 
    502 N.E.2d 718
    , 720 (1986).
    In Johnson, a police officer on traffic-control duty
    slipped and fell while crossing the street in response to a
    citizen's request for assistance.    
    Johnson, 114 Ill. 2d at 520
    ,
    502 N.E.2d at 719.   The supreme court rejected the argument that
    the officer did not assume a special risk because he merely
    crossed the street as any ordinary citizen would do. 
    Johnson, 114 Ill. 2d at 520
    , 502 N.E.2d at 719.     Instead, the supreme court
    focused on the capacity in which the officer was acting at the
    time of injury.   
    Johnson, 114 Ill. 2d at 521-22
    , 502 N.E.2d at
    720.
    - 11 -
    The supreme court found that the officer performed an
    "act of duty" because when he suffered the injury, the officer
    was discharging his sworn duties by responding to a citizen's
    call.    
    Johnson, 114 Ill. 2d at 522
    , 502 N.E.2d at 720.    The
    officer had no choice but to respond, and no comparable civilian
    occupation existed.    Johnson, 144 Ill. 2d at 
    522, 502 N.E.2d at 720
    (noting that an officer responding to a citizen "must have
    his attention and energies directed towards being prepared to
    deal with any eventuality").
    The supreme court also noted that for a line-of-duty
    pension, the officer need not be injured "by [the] act of duty"
    but rather that the injury occur "'in the performance of an act
    of duty.'" (Emphasis in original.)       
    Johnson, 114 Ill. 2d at 522
    ,
    502 N.E.2d at 720, quoting Ill. Rev. Stat. 1983, ch. 108 1/2,
    par. 5-154 (now 40 ILCS 5/5-154.1 (West 2006)).      The court
    concluded that the officer's "act of duty was the act of respond-
    ing to the call of a citizen for assistance."       Johnson, 
    114 Ill. 2d
    at 
    522, 502 N.E.2d at 720
    .    While performing that duty, the
    officer was injured.    
    Johnson, 114 Ill. 2d at 522
    , 502 N.E.2d at
    720.    As such, he was eligible for a line-of-duty disability
    pension.    
    Johnson, 114 Ill. 2d at 522
    , 502 N.E.2d at 720.
    Since Johnson, courts have found the police officer
    injured in the performance of an act of duty where the officer
    (1) fell through a porch while serving a notice to appear (Wagner
    - 12 -
    v. Board of Trustees, 
    208 Ill. App. 3d 25
    , 29, 
    566 N.E.2d 870
    ,
    873 (1991)); (2) was riding a bicycle on patrol (Alm, 352 Ill.
    App. 3d at 
    601, 816 N.E.2d at 394
    ); (3) injured his shoulder
    while raising a railroad crossing gate 
    (Sarkis, 378 Ill. App. 3d at 841
    , 882 N.E.2d at 1274); and (4) responded to a civilian call
    reporting juveniles stacking concrete parking blocks in a parking
    lot and suffered an injury when he attempted to remove the hazard
    by unstacking the concrete blocks (Merlo, slip op. at 2,       Ill.
    App. 3d at    , 890 N.E.2d at 617).    Other courts have found the
    officer was not injured in the performance of an act of duty
    where (1) the officer was injured when he attempted to sit down
    in a chair at his desk to fill out a police report and the chair
    rolled out from underneath him 
    (Morgan, 172 Ill. App. 3d at 276
    -
    
    77, 526 N.E.2d at 496
    ); (2) the officer was injured while exiting
    his police vehicle to place a parking citation on an illegally
    parked car 
    (White, 323 Ill. App. 3d at 736
    , 753 N.E.2d at 1247
    (where police department also employed civilians to issue parking
    citations)); and (3) the evidence technician was injured when the
    unmarked police vehicle in which he was riding as a passenger was
    struck while stopped at a red light 
    (Fedorski, 375 Ill. App. 3d at 375
    , 873 N.E.2d at 19).   This court has never addressed
    whether an officer injured while on patrol duty was injured in
    the performance of an act of duty and entitled to a line-of-duty
    pension.
    - 13 -
    2. Jones Was Injured in the Performance of an Act of Duty
    The Board argues Jones only encountered the general
    risks attendant to driving a car and driving the vehicle on
    routine patrol did not involve a special risk.     The Board relied
    below and relies on appeal on White, 
    323 Ill. App. 3d 733
    , 
    753 N.E.2d 1244
    , to conclude that Jones was not eligible for a line-
    of-duty disability pension.
    In White, a divided panel of the Appellate Court,
    Second District, concluded that the officer was not entitled to a
    line-of-duty disability pension.     White, 323 Ill. App. 3d at 
    736, 753 N.E.2d at 1247
    .   The officer, who was on patrol, slipped
    while exiting his vehicle to place a parking citation on an
    illegally parked vehicle.     
    White, 323 Ill. App. 3d at 734
    , 753
    N.E.2d at 1245.   Although the police department required its
    officers to issue parking tickets, the department also employed
    civilians to issue tickets.     White, 323 Ill. App. 3d at 
    736, 753 N.E.2d at 1247
    .
    The White court concluded that exiting a vehicle to
    place a traffic ticket on an illegally parked car did not involve
    a special risk not assumed by ordinary citizens.      White, 323 Ill.
    App. 3d at 
    736, 753 N.E.2d at 1247
    .      The court noted such an act,
    exiting a vehicle to place a flyer or notice on another vehicle,
    is one performed by ordinary citizens.      White, 323 Ill. App. 3d
    at 
    736, 753 N.E.2d at 1247
    .
    - 14 -
    Approximately three years later, another divided panel
    of the Second District specifically rejected White and found that
    the majority in White focused on the act performed rather than
    the capacity in which the officer was acting.       Alm, 
    352 Ill. App. 3d
    at 
    602, 816 N.E.2d at 395
    .    In Alm, the officer injured his
    knee while pedaling a bicycle on bicycle patrol, although the
    injury was not the result of any "specific, identifiable, physi-
    cal trauma."     Alm, 
    352 Ill. App. 3d
    at 
    601, 816 N.E.2d at 394
    .
    The Alm court rejected the argument that the officer
    was simply riding a bicycle.     Alm, 
    352 Ill. App. 3d
    at 
    602, 816 N.E.2d at 394
    .    Instead, the court noted that the focus was not
    on the specific act at the time of the injury--riding a bike--but
    on the capacity in which the officer was acting--bicycle patrol
    officer.   Alm, 
    352 Ill. App. 3d
    at 
    602, 816 N.E.2d at 394
    .         The
    Alm court found that in the capacity of bicycle patrol officer,
    the officer faced special risks not faced by ordinary citizens,
    including (1) riding the bicycle at night over varying terrain;
    (2) looking out for his own personal safety while also remaining
    diligent in the performance of his patrol duties; and (3) carry-
    ing a significant amount of additional weight.       Alm, 352 Ill.
    App. 3d at 
    601, 816 N.E.2d at 393
    .       These facts elevated the
    risks of falls, collisions, and dangerous encounters.       Alm, 
    352 Ill. App. 3d
    at 
    601, 816 N.E.2d at 393
    .       As such, even though the
    officer did not face those special risks at the exact time he
    - 15 -
    suffered the injury, the officer was performing an act of duty
    when he suffered his injury and was entitled to line-of-duty
    benefits.    Alm, 
    352 Ill. App. 3d
    at 
    601, 816 N.E.2d at 393
    .
    We agree with the reasoning of Alm and reject the
    reasoning of White.    As stated by the supreme court in Johnson,
    the "crux is the capacity in which the officer was acting."
    
    Johnson, 114 Ill. 2d at 522
    , 502 N.E.2d at 720.     In White, the
    court improperly focused on the specific act--exiting a car--and
    not the capacity in which the officer was acting.
    In the instant case, as in Alm, the capacity in which
    Jones was acting when he was injured was one involving special
    risk.   The job description for a patrol officer, which was part
    of the administrative record, provides:
    "The job of [p]atrol [o]fficer is gen-
    eral duty police work in the protection of
    life and property and the enforcement of laws
    and ordinances.   The work involves preventive
    patrol, preliminary investigation, traffic
    enforcement and regulation, and preservation
    of social order and public peace by means of
    patrolling in cars or on foot in a designated
    area where the officer is accountable."
    Among the listed duties and skills, the patrol officer must (1)
    "[p]ossess safety-minded driving ability and be conscious of all
    - 16 -
    types of road conditions either in the course of normal patrol or
    when responding to emergency call by use of the red light and
    siren" and (2) control and regulate vehicular and pedestrian
    traffic as needed.   The job description also recognizes that a
    patrol officer is a "visible and tangible around-the-clock
    representative of the city government process and can be summoned
    to respond on short notice" and is expected by citizens to
    provide a variety of social services.   Such social services
    include assisting persons who have no one to whom they can turn
    to for help, mediating neighborhood conflicts, maintaining
    "constant vigilance" patrolling assigned areas, helping stranded
    motorists, providing transportation services for those in need,
    and giving directions to out-of-town motorists.
    While job title alone is insufficient to establish
    performance of an act of duty 
    (Fedorski, 375 Ill. App. 3d at 375
    ,
    873 N.E.2d at 19), Jones was performing the duties of patrol
    officer at the time of the injury, and those duties involved
    special risk.   As the job description reflects, Jones had to,
    like the officer in Johnson, have his "attention and energies
    directed toward being prepared to deal with any eventuality."
    
    Johnson, 114 Ill. 2d at 522
    , 502 N.E.2d at 720.   Like the officer
    in Alms on bicycle patrol, Jones faced special risks on patrol,
    risks not assumed by the ordinary citizen driving down the
    street.   Those risks included being prepared to respond to
    - 17 -
    emergency calls, deterring crime, responding to citizen requests,
    controlling and regulating traffic, and maintaining constant
    vigilance.   Moreover, Jones testified he was going to investigate
    complaints about speeders on Airport Road.
    The Board asserts that Jones only encountered the
    general risk attendant to driving a car.     But even if driving a
    car involves only an ordinary risk, Jones was acting in a capac-
    ity that involved special risk when he was injured--routine
    patrol.   See, e.g., Fedorski v. Board of Trustees of the Aurora
    Police Pension Fund, 
    375 Ill. App. 3d 371
    , 
    873 N.E.2d 15
    (2007)
    (noting that the fact that the injury could have befallen anyone
    traveling in an automobile does not by itself foreclose a line-
    of-duty disability pension; the focus is not on the mechanism of
    the injury but on the capacity in which the officer was acting
    while injured).
    The Board also argues this case is almost identical
    factually to Fedorski, 
    375 Ill. App. 3d 371
    , 
    873 N.E.2d 15
    ,
    another Appellate Court, Second District, case that denied the
    officer a line-of-duty pension.   However, Fedorski is distin-
    guishable on its facts.
    In Fedorski, the plaintiff, an evidence technician, was
    riding as a passenger in an unmarked police car when it was
    struck from behind at a red light.      
    Fedorski, 375 Ill. App. 3d at 372
    , 873 N.E.2d at 16.    The plaintiff was returning to the police
    - 18 -
    station after assisting in a murder investigation and taking
    photographs for a lineup.    
    Fedorski, 375 Ill. App. 3d at 372
    , 873
    N.E.2d at 16.    He planned to contact the State's Attorney, enter
    evidence, and complete a report once he returned to the station.
    
    Fedorski, 375 Ill. App. 3d at 372
    , 873 N.E.2d at 16.
    The appellate court determined the plaintiff was not
    entitled to a line-of-duty disability because he was not acting
    in a capacity that entailed any special risk when the injury
    occurred.    Fedorski, 375 Ill. App. 3d at 
    375, 873 N.E.2d at 19
    (but also noting that the decision was consistent with White).
    The plaintiff was not performing any activity relating to his
    duties as an evidence technician that created a special risk not
    ordinarily assumed by any automobile passenger.    
    Fedorski, 375 Ill. App. 3d at 376
    , 873 N.E.2d at 20.
    In contrast, Jones was performing an act of police duty
    involving a special risk.    See 40 ILCS 5/5-113 (West 2006)
    (defining "act of duty").    Jones was driving a police transport
    van on patrol intending to investigate an area that had reports
    of speeders.    Although Jones was not responding to a call, he was
    conducting his patrol and an investigation, and he did face
    special risks associated with being on patrol duty.    See, e.g.,
    Senese v. Village of Buffalo Grove, No. 2-07-1017, slip op. at 1-
    2 (June 5, 2008),       Ill. App. 3d     ,   , 
    890 N.E.2d 628
    , 629
    (2008) (although involving another issue, noting that the police
    - 19 -
    officer received a line-of-duty pension after being injured when,
    while monitoring traffic, his parked squad car was struck from
    behind by another vehicle).   Jones had to have his attention
    directed toward being prepared to deal with any eventuality.
    Applying the liberal construction of pension statutes in favor of
    the pensioner, Jones is entitled to a line-of-duty pension.
    III. CONCLUSION
    For the reasons stated, we affirm the circuit court's
    judgment reversing the Board.
    Affirmed.
    KNECHT and TURNER, JJ., concur.
    - 20 -