Nebraska Now Offering Death Benefit To First Responders Who Die In The Line Of Duty | National News

Sunny to partly cloudy. High 98F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

Partly cloudy. Low 61F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.

Flames and smoke had turned the early April day to dark in southwest Nebraska when Elwood Volunteer Fire Chief Darren Krull hit the highway north of Arapahoe to help fight a wind-driven wildfire.

He and Phelps County Emergency Manager Justin Norris couldn’t see the water truck headed straight for them. Krull, 54, died in the collision, leaving behind a wife, two daughters and eight grandchildren.

Not quite three months later, in the wee hours of the morning, Saunders County Deputy Sheriff Jeff Hermanson had just finished arresting a suspect in a car theft near Mead when he felt chest pains.

The 45-year-old drove himself to the hospital, where he collapsed and died. He was survived by his wife and two teenage sons.

As is common when emergency personnel die on the job, friends, neighbors and fellow first responders turned out in force to honor the men and support their families.

Now, for the first time, their families could get support from the State of Nebraska as well.

A program created last year and expanded with legislation that took effect on July 21 offers a one-time, $250,000 death benefit to the families of first responders who die in the line of duty.

The line of duty payments are available for deaths starting this year of paid and volunteer firefighters, emergency medical service workers, ambulance squad members, law enforcement officers and correctional workers.

Karla Houfek of Lincoln, a volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician, said the new benefit will be a major help for families dealing with a sudden loss and the accompanying financial burdens. She has worked with many families as a member of the Nebraska Serious Injury and Line of Duty Death Response Team.

“The families are elated when we tell them there is this benefit and they could possibly receive it,” she said. “This is huge to these families. Their lives have crumpled.”

She and others have advocated for the program for several years, noting that most other states already offered similar benefits.

State Sen. Matt Hansen of Lincoln introduced the idea three times before it finally passed last year. Legislative Bill 255 provided for $50,000 payments.

“I believe it is time for Nebraska to join our neighbors and make sure that those first responders know we value their work, their service and their lives,” he said at the time.

Even then, there were opponents who argued that the state should not get involved with paying death benefits and that workers compensation or life insurance were better ways to take care of families.

This year, Sen. Adam Morfeld of Lincoln sponsored LB 717 to boost the benefit to $250,000. The increase passed before any benefits had been approved and applies to deaths this year. The amount will be increased by the inflation rate in future years.

Houfek said the number of first responder deaths varies from year to year. In February, she told lawmakers that Nebraska had one line-of-duty death in 2018, three in 2019, three in 2020 and six in 2021, which included deaths from COVID-19.

Three people have died so far this year, two firefighters and a law enforcement officer. All three families have filed for the new benefits, she said.

Based on news reports, the three are Krull, Hermanson and Lincoln Fire Inspector Don Gross, 57, who died of a cardiac arrest in January. John P. Trumble, who died in late April while helping with evacuation efforts and fire spotting in Red Willow County, was retired from the Cambridge Volunteer Fire Department.

Similar to other claims against the state, the line of duty claims have to be reviewed by the State Claims Board and be funded by the Legislature.

Hansen said he expects that, once the benefits are paid out, those first families’ experiences will show the importance of the new program.

“I’m glad to hear that the families feel supported by the law,” he said. “It did take a lot of effort to get the law passed, but it needed to be done.”

Among other laws that took effect on July 21:

Immunity for sex assault reporting. Victims and witnesses of sexual assault won’t get charged for minor drug and alcohol possession violations in certain cases under LB 519, introduced by Morfeld. Individuals can get immunity if they report the assault to law enforcement or seek emergency medical attention and cooperate with law enforcement.

Animal mistreatment. Hitting, kicking or otherwise striking an animal has been added to the definition of abuse under LB 851, introduced by Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln. The law responds to a case last year in which a man was caught on video kicking a dog repeatedly and law enforcement did not file charges.

Stolen valor. People claiming to be military members or veterans to deceive or harm others or get a financial benefit can now be charged with “criminal impersonation by stolen valor,” under LB 922. This law, proposed by Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair, also would apply to people who falsely claim to have a military medal or honor in order to gain something of value.

Trespassing with drones. Criminal trespassing charges can be filed against anyone using an electronic device, such as a drone, to spy on others in their home or property under LB 922. The charge applies if the drone enters into or above the property and is used to observe someone in a bathroom or other place where they expect privacy.

Lincoln couple grapples with police shooting of dog after city denies tort claim

LPS superintendent: Targeted masking approach appears to be 'new normal'

Beatrice restaurant to close this weekend

Ozzie Pederson gives her Warmblood horse, named Smokey, a bath in preparation for the Lancaster County Super Fair, at the Lancaster Event Center on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in Lincoln, NE. KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln High's Beni Ngoyi (center) and others, including Adonis Hutchinson (first from right), gather for a photo after Ngoyi announced his commitment to Iowa State on Wednesday at Lincoln High School.

Adam Helmerichs, owner of Diamond Concrete Cutting, organizes tiles removed from the Pershing Center mural Wednesday.

A young Husker fan takes a photo of Memorial Stadium during Nebraska Football Fan Day on Tuesday.

Union Bank's Thomas Neal is shown during an American Legion Area 5 tournament game against Carpet Land on Sunday, July 17, at Den Hartog Field.

A 1962 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible is auctioned off during the Remlinger Collector Car Auction at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Ashley Peterson (right) adjusts the mortar board cap for her son, Bryce Peterson, during a graduation ceremony from Future Husker University at Memorial stadium on Friday.

An attendee looks at tractors during the Camp Creek Threshers show Saturday near Waverly.

Former Papillion-La Vista softball player Jordy Bahl, who now plays at Oklahoma, lights the torch during the Cornhusker State Games' Opening Ceremonies on Friday at Seacrest Field.

A dragonfly lands on a lotus, Monday at Sunken Gardens, where temperatures topped out in the low 90s.

Sampson Construction third baseman Noah Thiele leaps over Pinnacle Bank's Max Olivas during an A-5 district Legion game Thursday at Den Hartog Field.

Dallas McGee, who is retiring at the end of the month from the city's Urban Development Department, poses for a photo at Bill Harris Iron Horse Park in downtown Lincoln. In the early days of the Haymarket redevelopment, renovating Lincoln Station and creating Iron Horse Park was considered a turning point for development in the area, McGee said. “All of a sudden, people were saying ‘we need to take you down and show you Iron Horse Park'” when visitors came to town.

As temperatures in Lincoln soared toward the upper 90s on Tuesday, families took advantage of the spray ground at Trago Park. Temperatures are expected to stay in the 90s for the next week and possibly top 100 on Friday and Saturday.

Originally published on omaha.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange.

For the first year ever, the War Bonnet Roundup held a Mutton Busting qualifying round. Read more