A Mount Vernon police officer undergoing dialysis after suffering kidney failure has lost his health insurance after the city terminated his retirement just six months before he would have become eligible for lifetime medical benefits, according to his family and city officials.

The officer, who served the department for years and was approaching retirement eligibility, is now facing mounting medical uncertainty as he continues treatment for a life-threatening condition without employer-provided coverage. The situation has sparked public concern and renewed scrutiny over how municipalities handle benefits for public servants who become seriously ill near the end of their careers.

According to the officer’s family, his kidney failure required regular dialysis treatments that made it impossible for him to continue working. While they believed his retirement process was underway, they later learned that his retirement had been formally terminated, triggering the loss of his health insurance coverage.

City officials have said the termination was based on procedural and eligibility rules governing retirement status and benefits. They maintain that the decision followed established policy, even as critics argue the outcome reflects a system that prioritizes technical compliance over human impact.

The officer’s condition has placed his family in a precarious position. Dialysis treatments are expensive and ongoing, and without insurance, the financial strain compounds the emotional toll of managing a chronic illness. Advocates say the case highlights a gap in protections for officers and other public employees whose health deteriorates just short of retirement thresholds.

Police unions and public-sector advocates have pointed to the case as an example of why retirement and disability policies may need reform, particularly when serious illness or injury arises close to eligibility milestones. They argue that rigid timelines fail to account for the unpredictable realities of health and service-related stress.

For residents in Mount Vernon, the case has prompted broader questions about how the city supports those who have spent their careers in public service. Community members have expressed concern that the officer’s experience could discourage others from remaining in demanding roles if long-term security can be lost so abruptly.

As the officer continues dialysis, his family says they are exploring all available options, including appeals and public advocacy, in hopes of restoring coverage or securing alternative assistance. The case remains a stark reminder of how quickly years of service can collide with bureaucratic boundaries, and how devastating that collision can be when health is already failing.