A Massachusetts state police trooper has filed a lawsuit alleging he developed prostate cancer from hazardous material exposure while training a bomb-detection dog at Logan Airport. The suit seeks line of duty injury benefits after the Massachusetts State Police denied his claim.
Bomb Dog Cancer Suit : Exposure and Allegations
The lawsuit, filed in Middlesex County Superior Court, details Kevin Mullen’s exposure to a variety of explosives such as ammonium nitrate, C-4, urea nitrate, and PETN during weekly training sessions with his K9 partner. Mullen, 58, believes the exposure led to his cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgery in 2022.
Mullen’s lawsuit names Massachusetts State Police Superintendent Col. John Mawn and the agency, along with the state and its Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. He argues that the agency improperly denied his claim for benefits, asserting that his cancer and subsequent surgery qualify as physical injuries under state law.
Bomb Dog Cancer Suit : Legal Battle
The Massachusetts State Police Board on Claims denied Mullen’s request in November 2023, citing that he didn’t meet the requirements of the injured in the line of duty statute. The board also stated that a separate “Cancer Bill” pertains only to retirement benefits for public safety employees with job-related cancers.
