Bellevue officer hurt in VP motorcade regains health care benefits

The Bellevue police officer who was badly hurt last August while serving in Vice President Kamala Harris’ motorcade has regained his health care benefits after he lost them last month, the police union announced Monday.

Kevin Bereta, a motorcycle officer who joined the department in 2018, was hurt while helping clear the roadway for Harris during her visit. He struck the side of the Michigan Street onramp and fell onto Interstate 5.

He suffered serious back, leg and shoulder injuries, which led to a three-week hospital stay. Due to the contract between the union and the city, Bereta had six months to return to work or risk losing his benefits.

It’s taken Bereta longer than six months to recover and his doctors have advised against returning to work, even for light duty, according to a late February news release sent by a law firm representing him. The union asked the city for an exception but was denied.

Since then, the city and the police union have penned a deal, acting City Manager Diane Carlson announced during Monday night’s Bellevue City Council meeting.

City employees who have suffered a workplace injury or illness, and have been approved for extended leave, can now have the cost of COBRA health coverage paid for by the city after their regular benefits run out. Describing it as a “near-term” solution, Carlson said the deal includes an option to extend that coverage for another six months, depending on circumstances.

That means Bereta can continue to get health insurance, Carlson explained.

“We look forward to continuing to work on a long-term solution,” she said. “But this offers a near-term solution that we’re very happy with.”