Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary and in order to promote the public good, the town of Methuen retirement board is hereby authorized and directed to retire Timothy P. Henrick, a police officer in the town of Methuen who, as a result of injuries sustained while in the performance of his duties on December 25, 1991, is totally and permanently incapacitated as for services as a police officer. The annual amount of the pension payable shall be fixed in an amount equal to 72 per cent of the rate of compensation which would have been paid had he continued in service as a police officer in said town at the grade held by him at the time of his retirement.

Such retirement shall become effective as of the date following the last day on which he is entitled to receive regular compensation.

Said retirement board shall further forthwith pay to Timothy P. Henrick all amounts standing to his credit in the annuity savings fund of the retirement system of said town.

SECTION 2. The provisions of section 100B of chapter 41 of the General Laws shall continue to apply to Timothy P. Henrick relative to his indemnification by the town of Methuen for any hospital, medical and related expenses which may be incurred by him after the date of his retirement as a result of the aforementioned incapacity.

SECTION 3. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, if the Methuen retirement board, upon proper proof, finds that said Timothy P. Henrick died as the natural and proximate result of the personal injuries sustained on December 25, 1991, the town of Methuen shall pay to the wife of Timothy P. Henrick an annual annuity equal to the sum of three-quarters of the pension payable to him at the time of his death and the town shall pay the sum of $312 for each child of said Timothy P. Henrick for such time as such child is either under 18 years of age or totally physically or mentally incapacitated from working. If the wife of Timothy P. Henrick receiving the annuity herein mentioned shall remarry, the town shall pay to her, in lieu of the aforesaid annuity, an annual annuity of $520 for each child of Timothy P. Henrick for such time as any such child is residing with her and is either under 18 years of age on January 1 of the year in question or is totally physically or mentally incapacitated from working.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.