No Scout related but need advice and help.

[sullyscout77]

Just a thought, but seems like the local News Channel's Investigative reporter would jump all over this as a special interest story. I know those in Houston eat these type of "wrong-doing" stories up and usually get the family or person involved a little justice!
BTW - Thanks to all of you who preserve and protect, both past and present! Without you, none of us would enjoy the many liberties we take for granted every day.
Please extend our heartfelt condolences to the Sleeper family as well, very sorry for their loss.

[crnbndr123]

My Department's open enrollment started today (20 years I've been doing this) and every year my ADC life insurance increases if I opt in for an increase. Regardless of circumstances, other than suicide, that benefit is paid in full to my benficiary if I die while on duty. (If I pass "off duty" there are still benefits, but substantially less.) Perhaps he had a department life insurance policy? I don't believe they can effect a life insurance policy, even a department policy, as long as he was on the clock at the time of death.

And then there's pension benefits depending how long he was on the job, tenured, etc.

Funny, I really didn't think there were that many other badges on the Binder Planet. Kinda nice to know. Birds of more than one feather it would seem.

[Dennis Bernth]

Originally Posted by joker51

Thanks KB, I really appreciate you checking into for me.
And Dennis, thats the wierd part about it. I worked patrol in the military and part time for a city in mn before I blew out my knee and I at that time patrol was tougher on me both physically and mentally. On the streets you dont know who to watch out for and in the prison you know who (all those in the kahkis) But I guess its a half a dozen of this and 6 of that, as the prisoners are always trying to play mind games and the chance for violence is always there just waiting to happen. So in my opinion anyone that puts on the uniform has the toughest job and is under paid and under appreciated until you need them.

But again thanks to all for your assistance in all this. I know Bryan would have appreciated the help you are all giving his family in this.

Joker51

Well, I'll admit it's getting worse out there. More people willing to fight or shoot to get away, and lots more willing to kill cops just because they're cops. At Occupy Phoenix there were flyers being distributed titled 'When Should You Shoot A Cop'. As I noted, I'm pretty much an old timer, I got in right after the Vietnam war wound down, but the 'counterculture', Weather Underground, Black Panthers, SLA, etc. were all still in play (wish I had grabbed the Patty Hearst wanted poster our Department got!). Our basic academy was at a state university, and the first thing they told us was not to go anywhere alone- go in groups of three or more. We were pretty easy pickings since we were about the only people on campus with short hair and shiny shoes and guys had been harassed just for being cops. When we marched to chow in formation and in uniform, it was more often than not that you heard people yelling 'pig' or 'soooey' at you. Over the years, the pattern changed (much like it did for Vietnam vets) and the police became more 'accepted' and respected it seemed like.

Now it seems like Deja vu all over again to me, like I've been here before- people in Occupy Oakland making a hero out of Lovelle Mixon (a lifetime felon, who was wanted for raping a 12 year old girl) for killing four Oakland Police officers in 2009. People calling Maurice Clemmons a 'hero' for killing four Lakeview WA. officers while they sat in a coffee shop. And the dirt bag who shot a San Diego police officer while he sat in his car at a stoplight is a martyr in a lot of people's opinion. Hopefully the ship gets righted soon and the majority makes these idiots understand that although they have a right to their opinions, encouraging violence against law enforcement won't be tolerated, or the next ten years could be very long and bloody. I'd have a hard time encouraging my son to enter the job now, with the way things are going, and I hate that feeling.

[joker51]

All news outlets have covered the story now. Good size backing on his families side now. Some still don't understand why they should get death benefits from workers comp. They just don't understand that our WSI pays an insurance if you die on the job. Not too many people have needed that around here. So trying to educate some ignorant people around here. What gets me is our WSI has a 1.5 billion dollar surplus and are still denying this.
He was only with the Sheriffs department for 4.5 years. Was with the prison for 8 before that.

Yeah its getting bad for anyone in uniform right now. Even here in ND its getting bad, 1st Officer killed in the line of duty for my cities PD happened a few months ago. Shot responding to a domestic. Hit above the vest off the colar bone and through the heart. 6 months from retiring.
For us up here its getting worse due to the economy everywhere else. We still have a great economy, lowest unemployment and close to 2 billion in surplus for state budget. And with the oil boom getting people from all over here. 911 calls have risen 400% in some areas. Had 6 murders/shooting in 1 month earlier this year, Usually only have that in a year.

Again thanks for all the support you guys have given and the info provided. I really appreciate the help.

Joker51

[joker51]

Update: wsi has reversed their decision and awared the death benefits to the Widow.
I want to thank all of you that gave me advice on how to assist in righting the wrong done to the Sleeper Family. All the news medias covered this story within a 2 day period and it was posted on a few social networking sites causing numerous emails and phone calls to the Governor's Office, The Governor stepped in and had a meeting with all the parties involved and once dash cam video was finally viewed by wsi they ruled it was the highly stressful situation that caused the death.
So thank all of you for checking with your local departments and offering advice.

Joker51