Police Benefits Bill Held Hostage, Widow Says

Thursday, March 15, 2018 | 0

A bill that would improve the death benefits for families of police officers killed in the line of duty is being held hostage because the police union opposes other bills that would affect pensions and workers' compensation benefits, a Louisville police widow charged this week.

State legislators denied the claim and said they are still revising the bill, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

“I know that my husband would be livid if he knew this was happening,” said Ashley Rodman, widow of Nick Rodman, a Louisville police officer who was killed by a drunk driver last year.

The Fraternal Order of Police, teachers and others have fought against Republican-favored HB 185, which would cut cost-of-living raises in retirement benefits in an effort to reduce more than $40 billion in unfunded liabilities. Public employees also have opposed HB 2, which would put a 15-year limit on work-injury claims, among other changes.