The benefits of this subchapter are available as provided in this subchapter to eligible law enforcement officers (referred to in this subchapter as “eligible officers”) and their survivors. For the purposes of this subchapter, an eligible officer is any person who is determined by the Secretary of Labor in his discretion to have been on any given occasion—
a law enforcement officer and to have been engaged on that occasion in the apprehension or attempted apprehension of any person—
(A) for the commission of a crime against the United States, or
(B) who at that time was sought by a law enforcement authority of the United States for the commission of a crime against the United States, or
(C) who at that time was sought as a material witness in a criminal proceeding instituted by the United States; or
(2) a law enforcement officer and to have been engaged on that occasion in protecting or guarding a person held for the commission of a crime against the United States or as a material witness in connection with such a crime; or
(3) a law enforcement officer and to have been engaged on that occasion in the lawful prevention of, or lawful attempt to prevent, the commission of a crime against the United States;
(Added Pub. L. 90–291, § 1(a), Apr. 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 98; amended Pub. L. 90–623, § 1(20), Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1313.)