Keene Police Officers's Association: Breaking News!

In the News!
John Stewart, President of the Keene Police Officers Association Named to Governor Lynch’s NH Crime Commission. Gov. John Lynch today issued an Executive Order creating the Governor's New Hampshire Crime Commission to examine ways to strengthen public safety across the state. Learn more.

PSOB COVERAGE EXTENDED TO VICTIMS OF
LINE OF DUTY HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES
November 25, 2003

On November 25, 2003, the "Hometown Heroes Act" passed Congress and was sent to the President for his signature. This necessary expansion of the Department of Justice's Public Safety Officers Benefit Program (PSOB) will extend coverage to include those officers who suffer debilitating or fatal heart attacks or strokes while on, or related to, active duty or training work.

The legislation passed explicitly defines the scope of heart attack and stroke causalities that will be included by the PSOB program. Though the Senate passed legislation, S. 459, on May 16, 2003, the House Judiciary Committee leadership thought the original bill too broad, claiming that it would include all heart attacks and strokes, work related or otherwise. NAPO and the bill's supporters refused to concede. Following months of debate and review, the legislation was again passed by the Senate and accepted by the House, for final passage.

NAPO has worked closely with the bill's main authors, Representative Bob Etheridge (D-NC) and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) since the legislation's first introduction in September of 2002. NAPO applauds the hard work and determined leadership of Representative Etheridge, Senator Leahy and their staffs on this important issue. All those members in the House and Senate who made this bill a reality have accomplished a great service for America's law enforcement and public safety officers and have again ensured that officer's families will not have to bear the sacrifices of their loved ones unaided.

The program previously did not recognize heart attacks and strokes for coverage, creating an unfortunate loophole which affected many officers and their families each year. NAPO is proud to have worked on strengthening the PSOB program over the years, including gaining enactment of an increase to the program's one time base payment from $100,000 to $250,000, indexing the payment for inflation and making the payment federal income tax-free.

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