PASSED: Cortez Masto-Led Bipartisan Legislation to Support Families of Retired Fallen Law Enforcement Officers

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) announced the Senate passed the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2026. This legislation - which she introduced with Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) earlier this year - would ensure the families of retired law enforcement officers who are killed as a result of their service are not unjustly denied benefits. The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act will become law when President Trump signs the NDAA this month.

"What happened to Chief Proffitt's family following his murder was an unacceptable injustice," said Senator Cortez Masto. "Law enforcement officers face significant challenges as they work to keep our communities safe - ensuring their families are taken care of if they die should not be one of them. It was my honor to lead the charge to ensure no family of fallen retired law enforcement ever goes through this situation again."

"The loss of Chief Herbert D. Proffitt is a tragic reminder of the risk that follows our finest every day of their lives. This legislation plugs an important hole, ensuring the Proffitt family-and others like them-are supported and assured that the service and sacrifice of their loved ones are never forgotten," said Senator McConnell. "I'm grateful for our law enforcement officers and their steadfast dedication to keeping us safe. Thank you to Senator Cortez Masto for her leadership on the issue and I applaud our colleagues for passing this bipartisan legislation."

"The current policy on the 'line of duty' disability/death benefits to law enforcement officers has denied retirees/families benefits they deserved from injury or death stemming from revenge motives from the time they served on active employment. The Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025 guarantees the officers or their families benefits in the unforeseen event of such instance even after retiring if circumstances are as described above, resulting in the officer being disabled or killed. On behalf of the Proffitt family, we thank the sponsors of the bill, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada (Senate), Congressman Andy Barr from Kentucky (House), and Supporting Heroes (Eric Johnson), who saw the need for the legislation and got the ball rolling. So much appreciation to all the Senators and Representatives who voted for this bill that will benefit not only our family, but future officers/families that may experience a similar tragedy," said Jeff Proffitt, Chief Proffitt's son.

This bill is named after Chief Herbert D. Proffitt, a Korean war veteran and law enforcement officer of 55 years who retired in 2009 as a former Chief of the Tompkinsville, Kentucky Police Department. On August 28, 2012, Chief Proffitt was tragically shot and killed in his driveway by an individual he had arrested a decade earlier. Although his murder was a direct retaliation for his service in uniform, his family was denied benefits under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits program simply because he had already retired. To ensure this doesn't happen in the future, the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act would:

• Amend the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program eligibility criteria for retired law enforcement officers who have died or become permanently disabled due to a targeted attack directly resulting from their service; and
• Retroactively apply the updated eligibility for claims starting on January 1, 2012.

As the former top law enforcement official in Nevada, Senator Cortez Masto has been a leading advocate in the Senate for our police officers and is part of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus. She has secured historic funding for the Byrne JAG grant program, the leading source of criminal justice funding in the country. Her bipartisan bills to combat the crisis of law enforcement suicide and provide mental health resources to police officers have been signed into law by presidents of both parties. Her BADGES for Native Communities Act to support the Bureau of Indian Affairs with law enforcement recruitment and retention passed the Senate earlier this month.

###