Permanent disability benefits

Any officer or member of any such police department or fire department who shall, while a member of such department and while engaged in the performance of his or her duties as such, be permanently injured or disabled, and upon an examination by a physician or physicians appointed by the board of trustees be found to be physically or mentally disabled as a result of such permanent disability or injury so as to render the officer or member unfit for the performance of his or her duties as a policeman or fireman, shall be entitled to be retired and the board of trustees shall thereupon order his or her retirement, and upon his or her being retired the officer or member shall be paid out of the respective pension funds, monthly, a sum equal to fifty percent of the amount of monthly compensation allowed such officer or member as a salary at the time of his or her permanent injury or disability: Provided, That the board of trustees may, when they deem it advisable, call back for re-examination by a physician any officer or member retired by reason of permanent disability under the provisions of this act, and if said examination discloses that said member is then able to perform his or her duties in said department, the member may be returned to service; and if said member, upon request fails or refuses to return to duty then all payments from said pension fund shall cease; and in the event such officer or member returns to duty, the time lost by reason of such injury or disability shall apply on his or her retirement time.