MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Within a week of the shooting death of Officer Sean Bolton, a Memphis City Council committee took steps to protect loved ones of city employees who make the ultimate sacrifice.
The committee voted to move forward with an agenda item that guarantees that families of city employees who die in the line of duty who are on the city’s health insurance will continue to receive coverage.
“We never put this in writing,” council member Jim Strickland said.
Strickland said this agenda item has been in the works for a couple weeks, which means it is not necessarily in reaction to Bolton’s death.
Currently, families of those who die in the line of duty continue to receive health benefits after their loved one’s death. Council members just want it on paper.
Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong was there for the council committee’s discussion.
“I think it was the right thing to do. Certainly, in the four years I’ve been here, we’ve lost three officers,” he said.
The council heard from Donna Kirk, who lost her husband, a firefighter, in the line of duty.
“These women and their dependents need this money,” she said.
The council committee passed the agenda item unanimously. It will need to go before the full council.
Strickland said he still needs to meet with the city’s human resources department to go over it.
