Andy Barr: “I rise today to honor a Kentucky hero, Chief Herbert D. Proffitt, and his son, Jeff Proffitt, who has worked tirelessly…”

“I rise today to honor a Kentucky hero, Chief Herbert D. Proffitt, and his son, Jeff Proffitt, who has worked tirelessly to ensure his father's sacrifice is never forgotten. Chief Proffitt served our Nation in Korea and then protected the people of Tompkinsville, Kentucky, for 55 years in law enforcement. Years after he left the force, Chief Proffitt was murdered by a criminal he had arrested and put behind bars over a decade earlier. When his family sought Federal death benefits provided to families of fallen officers, they were denied because Proffitt was retired at the time of his death. This exposed a painful loophole in the system and one that I am fighting to correct. I am leading the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act, legislation to amend the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program to ensure that the families of retired law enforcement officers who are killed as a result of their service are not unjustly denied benefits. I thank Jeff Proffitt and the entire Proffitt family for their many years of service to Tompkinsville and Monroe County. I urge my colleagues to support this bill because it is our solemn duty to support the families of fallen law enforcement officers and make sure that the service and sacrifice of heroes like Chief Herbert D. Proffitt are never forgotten.”