What kind of support exists for widows of fallen officers?

March 14, 2010 8:38 PM

Recently, a police officer here in Canada was killed in the line of duty. He left behind his wife and 3 sons. I'm curious what sort of support, financial and otherwise, is available to her in the coming days, months and years. Does she keep getting his paycheque? Does that stop after a while? I keep thinking that if I were a police officer, and I was killed, I would like my wife and kids to be taken care of like, forever.
posted by Sully to Law & Government (10 answers total)

I know a lot of precincts have a family fund, or run charitable drives for monetary support of surviving relatives. Most of them also offer counseling services and support for immediate household needs.
posted by Hwin at 8:41 PM on March 14, 2010

Presumably he had a life insurance policy.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 8:41 PM on March 14, 2010 [2 favorites]

I can't speak for Canada, but at least in the large US cities, there are sizable charitable funds for just this sort of occurrence.
posted by gjc at 8:44 PM on March 14, 2010

The family will get his pension, and there's mandatory life insurance. They'll be taken care of.
posted by ten pounds of inedita at 8:54 PM on March 14, 2010

As well as charities, where I live there are at least two mutual aid funds for support to widows and dependent children of police, one independent one and one run by the Police Association (ie. the union).

Funds run by member/policyholders are extremely common in almost every occupation where there's a high risk of death and/or incapacitating injury; they're one of the oldest forms of industrial organising.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 9:06 PM on March 14, 2010

Life insurance, for one. My father is a police officer and has a sizable policy through work. In the US, organizations like the Backstoppers raise money to support spouses and families, up to and including helping to send children of fallen officers to college.
posted by honeybee413 at 10:04 PM on March 14, 2010

Specifically, donations are being taken by the following charity:

Family has requested in lieu of flowers charitable donations to :Constable Pham’s children In Trust for Heather Pham, Scotiabank account #XXXXXXXXX

its somewhat down the facebook page.
posted by Ironmouth at 11:09 PM on March 14, 2010

This page includes a benefits summary including life insurance for Ontatrio Police Officers.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:00 AM on March 15, 2010

OPP offices are also members of the Ontario Public Service Pension Plan, which includes surviving spouse benefits.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:02 AM on March 15, 2010

Best answer: I keep thinking that if I were a police officer, and I was killed, I would like my wife and kids to be taken care of like, forever.

If I were a pre-press technician, and I was killed, I would like my wife and kids to be taken care of like, forever.
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 10:27 AM on March 15, 2010