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EATONVILLE, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Former Eatonville Police Corporal Omar Delgado thought he would receive money needed for healthcare, after he said he suffered PTSD while responding to the Pulse Nightclub tragedy back in 2016.
"Corporal Delgado will receive his full pension benefits, regardless of his less than 10 years old employment with the town of Eatonville police department," said Eatonville Mayor Eddie Cole in December.
Delgado said he is struggling with nightmares and depression while still fighting for his money.
Mayor Cole didn't want to comment, but he said it wasn't his decision. Eatonville's Board of Trustee's denied the request for disability pension.
"It was like a slap in the face. Everybody knew what I went through."
According to the Board's attorney, Delgado never showed up to the hearing and a doctor testified that he was not permanently disabled.
"It was a shocker to me," he said.
A shocker, because Delgado said he was out of town when was told about the hearing a week before it took place and couldn't attend. He said he was never told his doctors had to be at his pension hearing, but he did provide records from other physicians saying he was permanently disabled.
"We're going on nine months now and I'm still stuck at zero."
Delgado was six months away from earning pension when the Pulse attack occurred. He said he helped create a law making PTSD a physical injury on the job.
"At least fellow first responders in the future, God forbid something happens, at least they're gonna be taken care of," he said.
Delgado can't benefit from this legislation, because it goes into effect October 1. He's not sure what he'll do.
"I'm now in almost a desperate stage of now what do I do, because I was relying on the town of Eatonville to make it right."
Delgado said he plans to be at the next hearing. His attorney also plans to file a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.