Providence Journal files / Andrew Dickerman
Former Fire Chief George S. Farrell sits at the table in 2011 as the Providence Retirement Board discusses his request for an accidental-disability pension.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter has upheld the Providence Retirement Board's decision to deny an accidental-disability pension to retired Fire Chief George S. Farrell.
The ruling comes after Farrell asked the court to order the board to pay him a tax-free accidental disability pension because he suffers from myelogenous leukemia, an illness that was diagnosed in August 2007.
Farrell, who is a collecting a regular retirement pension, served as chief of the state's largest fire department from April 2007 to Dec. 10, 2010.
His last salary was $138,645.