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The Justice Department is denying federal benefits to the families of the two auxiliary police officers who were brutally killed by a marauding gunman in the West Village last year.
Yevgeniy Marshalik's and Nicholas Pekearo's families each applied for $300,000 in benefits, part of the 2003 “Hometown Heroes” Congressional bill for families of first-responders killed in the line of duty. But the DOJ doesn't think they qualify, because NYC's “auxiliary police are not recognized as police officers and do not have power of arrest beyond that of a private citizen.”
The bill's co-writer Senator Chuck Schumer (pictured) blasted the decision: “Somebody in the Justice Department... was trying on the cheap to save money, and it was truly on the cheap, not just financially, but morally and ethically.” Police Commissioner Kelly, who will testify tomorrow to appeal, said, “the definition the Department of Justice has used regarding NYPD auxiliary officers in general, and these officers in particular, is too narrow and does not comport with Congress’s intention.”
NYC's auxiliary police officers are trained by the NYPD, wear NYPD-issued uniforms and carry nightsticks, handcuffs and police radios to help patrol the streets. Marshalik's father Boris also asked, “What makes the lost life of an auxiliary police officer who was killed in the line of duty and who saved many lives less valuable than the life of a police officer or peace officer? It’s not a question of money. It’s a question of recognition and a question of respect to the memory of my son and Nicholas.”
AP Photo/Dennis Cook
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Maybe if Chuck didn't support tax breaks for hedge fund managers there would be some extra cash in the system. What a douche this guy is. Who does he care more about, the policemen or his own career. Quick, over here, Chuck! A camera crew is setting up!
By the time I finish typing this we will have spent another million dollars in Iraq.
And yet the Bush Justice Department is nickel-and-diming two brave heroes. This is how much regard our government has for us.
"You want to save humanity, but it's people that you just can't stand..."
I agree the Schumer is a schmuck. I don't recall in my life ever seeing a politician that does everytign he does in politics to only make himself look good. He's also the leader of sticking his nose where it doesn't belong.
As for these two officers, I believe they should get the money. It has nothing to do with the ability to arrest, it's the fact that these people put their lives at risk just by putting on the uniform.
Volunteer fireman get similar benefits. Why not volunteer police? No gun, no benefits? Get real.
This is disgusting. DOJ should be ashamed. Tim N. is spot on.
Tim N. took the words right out of my mouth. It's no surprise that this administration is pulling this garbage. Par for the course. January can't come soon enough. Even McCain can't be any worse. There is absolutely no way to go but up, from what is easily the worst presidency in modern memory and the leading contender for the worst in all of American history.
It’s not a question of money. It’s a question of recognition and a question of respect to the memory of my son and Nicholas.”
If it's a question of recognition and respect, let's give them a medal.
I fail to see how it makes any sense to pay $300,000 in federal money because auxiliary cops in NYC were killed.
I don't see the fact that tax money is wasted on a larger scale elsewhere isn't justification.
Didn't they have had life insurance? If a private citizen, like Bloomberg or Trump, or a group of us through donations, wants to shell out $300k for them, that's one thing. But I don't see why the federal government should be involved.
And along those lines, they should eliminate the 2003 Hometown Heros program.
Hey Government. Wake the Fck up. We're broke. Stop spending our money on senseless wars and needless feel-good programs.
Fuck the DOJ
I'm not sure this is really about the Hometown Heroes Act.. which was:
"A bill to ensure that a public safety officer who suffers a fatal heart attack or stroke while on duty shall be presumed to have died in the line of duty for purposes of public safety officer survivor benefits."
According to the introductory remarks at a Congressional hearing on the Act:
"Current law provides the awarding of $250,000 to the survivors of public safety officers such as police officers, firefighters, and rescue squad officers who die ''as the direct and proximate result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty."
I assume a later law jacked it up to 300k.
Can someone explain to me why someone would be an auxiliary cop and not a real one...with a gun!?
Someone becomes an aux cop if they're trying to get into the academy, or is just doing it as a part time volunteer thing AFAIK. The requirements for being an aux cop isn't as strict as for a gun toting police officer.
ah