 |
|
Releases
& Statements
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 15, 2007
Contact: John Collins, Press Secretary
(212) 669-4193; (917) 576-4696
Release #: 003-2007
Public
Advocate Gotbaum Calls on City to Provide Mandatory Coverage of
Full Funeral Costs for Auxiliary Cops
MANHATTAN
– Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum today called on the City
to provide mandatory coverage of full, reasonable funeral costs
for auxiliary police officers who fall in the line of duty –
as is already given to full-time police officers. Currently, fallen
firefighters and full-time police officers are compensated for
full, reasonable funeral costs. However, fallen auxiliary police
officers, as volunteers, receive only up to $6,000 to cover funeral
expenses.
Public
Advocate Gotbaum said, "The tragic deaths of auxiliary police
officers Nicholas Pekearo and Yevgeniy Marshalik yesterday, following
the shooting and stabbing of three police officers earlier in
the week, is a stark reminder that all the brave men and women
of the New York Police Department put their lives on the line
every day. As a mother and a grandmother, my heart breaks for
their families. All of New York City will keep these families
in their thoughts and prayers.
"Sadly, this will not be the last time that police officers
- both full-time and volunteer - will sacrifice themselves to
protect our City. And while we must be sure that they have every
tool they need to do their job effectively and safely, we also
need to make sure that their families have support in times of
loss.
"That's why today I am calling on the City to provide auxiliary
police officers with mandatory coverage of full, reasonable funeral
costs. In the face of danger, volunteer officers answer the call
of duty with honor. Now is the time for the City to step forward
and honor those who protected us."
During the early 1980s, as President of the New York City Police
Foundation, Public Advocate Gotbaum spearheaded a campaign to
provide every police officer with a bullet proof vest. Prior to
Gotbaum's campaign, police officers were forced to purchase their
own vests.
###
|
|
