Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025
The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025 would expand the public safety officers’ death benefits program by adding a new eligibility category for certain retired law enforcement officers. Specifically, it allows a retired officer to receive a benefit if the retiree dies or becomes permanently and totally disabled as a direct result of a personal injury from a targeted attack connected to the officer’s service. The bill defines who counts as a “retired law enforcement officer” and provides for retroactive application, generally effective on enactment and applying to actions pending or accruing after that date, with an exception for actions taken on or after August 28, 2012. In short, it broadens protections to retirees who were injured or killed due to attacks tied to their service, and it sets a retroactive window for claims tied to past incidents.
Key Points
- 1Adds a new eligibility category (subsection 1201(p)) to the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968: a retired officer may receive benefits if a personal injury from a targeted attack due to their service causes death or permanent and total disability.
- 2Defines “retired law enforcement officer” as someone who left service in good standing in an official capacity at a public agency, with or without compensation.
- 3Retroactive applicability: generally takes effect on the date of enactment and applies to matters pending with the Bureau of Justice Assistance or otherwise filed or accruing after that date.
- 4Exceptions to retroactivity: applies to actions taken against a retired officer described in 1201(p) that occurred on or after August 28, 2012.
- 5Practical effect: expands the pool of eligible beneficiaries to include certain retired officers and may affect the scope and timing of benefit claims and associated costs.