The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan bill that was put up by Nevada Democrat Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Senate Republican Mitch McConnell. The bill makes sure that the families of retired police officers who were killed in reprisal for their service can get federal compensation.
The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act passed with no opposition and is now going to the House of Representatives for a vote.
The measure is named after Chief Herbert D. Proffitt, who served in the Korean War and was a police officer for 55 years. He retired in 2009 as the police chief in Tompkinsville, Kentucky. A man Chief Proffitt had arrested 10 years before shot him in his driveway on August 28, 2012. His murder was a direct response to his work as a police officer, yet his family was not eligible for payments under the Public Safety Officers’ payments program because he had already retired.
Cortez Masto remarked on the Senate floor, “Even though his murder was a direct response to his service in uniform, Chief Proffitt’s family was denied the benefits they deserved because he had already retired.” “That’s not okay with me. And I know that my coworkers on both sides of the aisle agree.
The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act passed, but it was only one of seven pro-law enforcement laws that Cortez Masto tried to get through. The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act and the Improving Police CARE Act were the only two that made it through the Senate.
The five bills that were stopped were:
–The Protecting First Responders from Secondary Exposure Act, which would give local governments the training and tools they need to keep officers safe from harmful substances;
–The Reauthorizing Support and Treatment for Officers in Crisis Act of 2025, which is meant to help police and first responders with their mental health issues;
–The PROTECT Our Children Reauthorization Act of 2025, which will update and renew the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program;
The Strong Communities Act of 2025 would provide recruits reasons to serve in the neighborhoods where they live.
The Retired Law Enforcement Officers Continuing Service Act encourages the hiring of retired officers to do civilian law enforcement work.
Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., didn’t like the five measures, according to Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. Grassley said Booker was trying to stop the legislation “in an effort to force federal dollars to sanctuary cities that blatantly violate federal immigration law.”
Cortez Masto, who used to be Nevada’s top law enforcement officer, has been involved in policing matters for a long time. She is a member of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus and has written a number of bipartisan laws to help prevent police suicides and increase mental health resources. Presidents from both parties have signed these bills into law. She also wrote the BADGES for Native Communities Act, which is meant to help the Bureau of Indian Affairs hire and keep employees.
Dan Goldman, a Democrat from New York, applauded the bill’s approval and called for quick action in the House.
Goldman added, “We have a duty to take care of those who make the ultimate sacrifice while serving, even after they retire.”
“Partisan gridlock is making Congress stop working, so I’m glad that both parties came together to pass this common-sense law to honor our fallen heroes.” “I urge Republican leaders to bring this bill to the House Floor in September and make sure that any law enforcement officers who are killed or hurt while on duty get the benefits they deserve, no matter if they are retired or not,” he added in his length statement.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
