BY LISA DONOVAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Linda Pope
|
Cincinnati City Council members are discussing how to honor what a police officer's widow says was a broken promise to pick up the costs of her husband's funeral.
The discussion was prompted by an article in The Cincinnati Enquirer in which Linda Pope, widow of slain officer Daniel Pope, said she still hasn't received the $12,000 city officials promised her.
Councilman Todd Portune said he wants his colleagues to cover funeral and travel expenses that Mrs. Pope incurred after her husband was gunned down along with his partner, Spec. Ronald Jeter, last December.
Mr. Portune also would like to see the same "funeral" package offered to Spec. Jeter's family. Cost is estimated at more than $20,000 for both families.
"It goes beyond police officers; any city employee killed in the line of duty should have their funeral expenses paid," Mr. Portune said.
He said he was trying to get the expenses paid shortly after the shootings, but said he didn't have the support of others on council.
Mrs. Pope insists it was Mr. Portune who told her all funeral costs would be paid. Mr. Portune said he merely offered to go to council with a request.
In addition, high-ranking police officers told Mrs. Pope that the expense of flying her relatives in for services would be covered. Cincinnati Police Lt. Col. Jim Smith said that will be investigated.
"You don't make promises you're not going to keep. It's not an issue of money. I was going to donate it to the Shriners Burns Institute," Mrs. Pope said. "I'm not interested in anyone's money."
Councilman Phil Heimlich sponsored a measure in August to pay for the costs of both families, at Mrs. Pope's request.
"I told her I thought that the benefits she was receiving seemed fair to me, but when promises are made, they need to be kept and if she had been promised the funeral expenses I told her I would put in a motion to reimburse her," Mr. Heimlich said.
The administration will release a recommendation on the request next week for council's review.
On Friday, City Manager John Shirey, while not addressing the question of promises made, said Mrs. Pope had received "proper and just" compensation.
He said she received an initial payout of about $200,000, which includes $20,000 in accordance with the city's labor agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police.
In addition, Mrs. Pope is entitled to initial annual survivor benefits of about $69,000.
POPE-JETER PAGE
