Rep. Foncello Highlights Fallen Officer Fund in Two-Year State Budget

HARTFORD—Representative Martin Foncello (R-Brookfield) is highlighting a new, lesser-known provision in the two-year state budget that provides more financial support for the families of law enforcement officers who are killed in the line of duty.

The biennium budget signed by Gov. Lamont in June allocated $500,000 in each of fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to create the Fallen Officer Fund, an initiative Foncello and others in House Republicans proposed in the 2023 legislative session. The bill became an element of budget negotiations last spring after it garnered unanimous bipartisan support during the Appropriations Committee process.

“For many years I worked in New York City as a liaison to the NYPD, and I have seen first-hand how devastating the loss of an officer is on their loved ones,” said Foncello. “I am grateful that Brookfield is a safe community, but if there comes a time when one of our brave men or women in uniform is killed in the line of duty, we should step up to aid their family.”

Effective July 1, 2023, the fund covers any Connecticut state or municipal police officer as well as any auxiliary, intermittent, special, part-time, or reserve police officer. The family of an officer killed in the line of duty will receive a one-time lump sum benefit of $100,000, within available appropriations. The payment is not taxable under state law. It cannot be reduced or offset due to other benefits that may be awarded to families, such as financial assistance provided through the Police Association of Connecticut.

“I look forward to working toward additional supportive legislation in the future,” added Foncello.