MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. — The mayor of Mount Vernon has approved a six-month extension of health benefits and delayed separation for Officer Derek Williams, the department veteran who said he was facing termination while undergoing daily dialysis for end-stage kidney disease.
In a statement released Dec. 18, Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard said she authorized the extension after reviewing Williams’ employment status and learning more about his medical situation.
“When it comes to serious illness, it requires a softer touch of government that goes beyond bureaucracy,” Patterson-Howard said.
Williams, a 19-year veteran of the Mount Vernon Police Department, has been out on medical leave since April 2023 and undergoes dialysis for nine hours a day, seven days a week. He previously told WABC that his doctors had cleared him for light duty work, but that the department denied the request and issued a termination notice effective Dec. 31.
Williams told WABC that his health began to decline after he contracted COVID-19 while working extended shifts during the height of the pandemic, a claim the city has said was never formally reviewed because he did not submit paperwork under Section 207-C of New York State law.
During a brief conversation with Williams, the mayor said he indicated he did not have Police Benevolent Association representation during the process. Patterson-Howard said she is directing city staff to support Williams and urging the union to continue donating sick time to cover his absence.
Under state law, the city could have proceeded with separation after one year of inability to perform essential job duties. However, the mayor said the extension is being granted in recognition of Williams’ serious health challenges and to allow additional time for him to complete the retirement or disability process. Patterson-Howard told WABC the six-month extension is intended to give Williams time to apply for a medical disability while maintaining his health coverage.
The mayor’s office said it has contacted the City Council and comptroller to ensure legislation is introduced to formalize the extension. The city will also continue contributing a portion of Williams’ health insurance premiums for an additional six months, allowing him to maintain access to benefits earned during his service.
Williams previously said losing his job would also mean losing his health insurance while he remains on a kidney transplant waiting list. Supporters, including retired officers and former Mount Vernon Police commissioner Shawn Harris, have argued that termination could have life-threatening consequences.
“To be blunt, if you’re terminating his employment, you’re terminating his life,” Harris said during a prior interview with WABC.
City officials previously stated that Williams’ illness was classified as non-job-related and that retirement and disability determinations are made by the New York State and Local Retirement System, not the city.
Donate to Officer Derek Williams
Officer Derek Williams, a 19-year veteran of the Mount Vernon Police Department, now faces a severe health crisis after years of dedicated service. Derek battles kidney failure requiring daily dialysis.:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Donate to the GoFundMe
