Need info please

[jlf]

This is in reference to Fallen Correction Officer Joe Allen Gamble. My coworker asked me to try to get some info for her and I said I would try. For those of you who do not know, Joe Allen Gamble was murdered by an inmate in early June.

The wardon of the prison had promised her that they would pay for the funeral since he died in the line of duty, now they are saying that they are not paying for it.
What I am needing to know is that if an officer whether a correction officer or a police officer killed in the line of duty, if the funeral expenses are payed by the department for whom they work or if the family pays for it. I am checking into our local police department for which my husband works, he had told me he was not sure. So I am doing research to find out for her.
She has had nothing but broken promises from the Department of Corrections, since her husbands murder.

I thank you for your time.

Jennifer

[KenM]

My dept pays the usual death benefits through our insurance carrier. Nothing comes out of the dept budget. Also several of the local funeral homes have extended free services to any officer killed in the line of duty. Sorry to not be able to furnish more info. That is not something I have researched very much. Just too disturbing.

Condolences for your loss.

[Rebecca]

Jennifer...

Try looking through this link for COPS... Concerns of Police Survivors.
http://www.nationalcops.org/law.htm

Some of the downloads may be very helpful to you. Good luck with this... and if you need my help, remember that I will do everything that I can.

Did the facility state why they won't pay for Allen's funeral? What steps have been taken so far as to inquire why they are backing out of this? Have any support groups been contacted? Is there a union?

Seems to me this family is turning their backs on one of their own when their help is needed most of all!

One more question... how is the injured Officer?

This couldn't be more sad. http://www.officer.com/ubb/frown.gif

[Don]

Jennifer,

It is very possible, even probable that the warden made a "good faith" statement at the time. He was probably grief stricken too you know.

I don't know of any agency that pays for funeral expenses. Some states have insurance furnished for just this type of incident, and it is not limited to just paying for the funeral, but an actual dollar amount. It kicks in when an officer is killed in the line of duty. However the necessary paper work must be filed to get it.

There should also be some type of money from workers compensation, or what ever plan the agency is under. (In California it's called 4850).

At any rate, the command in that agency should know what is available. If they are in fact turning their back on this officer's family, perhaps some attorney (much as I hate to say this) needs to look into it. You might find one that would work at a reasonable, or even no cost fee on this situation.

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Stay safe out there,
6P1 (retired)