Payments to families or dependents of policemen and firemen killed or fatally injured. The corporate authorities of any city or village by general ordinance may provide for the payment of an allowance of money to the family or dependents of any policemen or firemen employed by such city or village in case he is killed or fatally injured while in the performance of his duties. Such allowance shall not exceed $15,000. It shall be payable only in case the injury arises from violence or other accidental cause and death is directly due to such cause and results within one year after such injury.