Extends federal death benefits to retired law enforcement officers who die or are disabled due to targeted attacks related to their prior service, applicable retroactively to January 1, 2012.
Catherine Cortez Masto
Senator
NV
The "Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025" broadens the Public Safety Officers' Death Benefits program to include retired law enforcement officers who die or are permanently disabled because of targeted attacks related to their prior service. This expansion applies retroactively to incidents occurring on or after January 1, 2012, and to pending or future cases. It ensures that retired officers who are victims of targeted violence stemming from their service receive the same benefits as active officers. The bill defines a retired law enforcement officer as someone who left their position in good standing, whether paid or unpaid.
Retired Officers Targeted Post-Service Could Gain Death Benefits Under New Bill, Retroactive to 2012
The 'Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025' proposes a significant expansion to the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) program. Currently focused on active-duty officers, this bill aims to extend death and disability benefits to retired law enforcement officers if they are targeted and killed or permanently disabled because of their prior service. This change would apply retroactively to incidents occurring on or after January 1, 2012.
Extending the Shield: What Changes?
The core change here is broadening who qualifies for PSOB benefits. Section 2 of the bill specifically includes 'retired law enforcement officers' – defined as individuals who separated 'in good standing' from a public agency after serving as an officer, regardless of whether they were paid or volunteer. If such a retired officer dies or becomes totally and permanently disabled as a 'direct result of a targeted attack stemming from their service as a law enforcement officer,' they or their survivors could be eligible for federal benefits. Imagine a detective who retired five years ago being attacked specifically because of a high-profile case they closed; under this bill, that attack could trigger eligibility.
Looking Back: The Retroactive Reach
A key feature is the bill's look-back provision. It explicitly states the changes apply to any targeted action taken against a retired officer on or after January 1, 2012. This means cases currently pending or filed, and incidents that occurred over the past decade-plus, could potentially qualify for benefits if the bill becomes law. Families who lost a retired officer under these circumstances since 2012, or retired officers disabled by such attacks, might have a new avenue for seeking support.
The Practical Side: Proving the Connection
While the bill extends potential benefits, a practical hurdle will be demonstrating the link required by the text. Eligibility hinges on proving the death or disability was a 'direct result' of a 'targeted attack' specifically 'stemming from their service'. This implies a need for clear evidence connecting the attack to the individual's past law enforcement duties, differentiating it from a random act of violence. The specifics of how this connection must be proven aren't detailed in this section, but it's the central requirement for accessing these expanded benefits.