KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The Senate unanimously passed the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act, ensuring families of retired law enforcement officers killed in retaliation receive federal benefits
- The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., and Senate Republican leadership, now heads to the House
- Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., blocked five additional pro-law enforcement measures, prompting accusations of partisan obstruction
- The bill honors Chief Proffitt, a 55-year veteran killed in 2012 by a man he had arrested, whose family was initially denied benefits due to his retirement status
The U.S. Senate delivered a decisive victory for law enforcement families, passing unanimous bipartisan legislation that corrects a federal benefits gap affecting retired officers killed in retaliation for their service. The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act now advances to the House after clearing the chamber with support from both parties-a rare moment of consensus in today’s divided Congress.
What the Legislation Accomplishes
The measure addresses a glaring injustice in the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program that had denied compensation to families when retired officers were murdered for their police work. Chief Herbert D. Proffitt, a Korean War veteran and Tompkinsville, Kentucky police chief who served 55 years in law enforcement, was shot dead in his driveway on August 28, 2012, by a man he had arrested a decade earlier. Despite authorities confirming the killing was direct retaliation for his uniform service, his family received nothing under existing federal benefits rules.