In the heartland of Kentucky and throughout the United States, law enforcement officers are more than just protectors; they are integral threads woven into the community tapestry.
They worship alongside the citizens they safeguard, mentor young athletes, and selflessly risk their lives for their neighbors, who often become more like family. These officers are the first responders in times of crisis, regardless of the time or situation.
However, it is often overlooked that the peril they face does not always dissipate once they hang up their uniforms. In some cases, their service leaves an indelible mark, making them targets even in retirement.
Such was the tragic fate of Chief Herbert D. Proffitt of Tompkinsville, Kentucky. After dedicating 55 years to law enforcement, marked by unwavering integrity and empathy, Chief Proffitt was brutally murdered in 2012 by a man he had previously arrested on numerous occasions. This was not a random act of violence but a calculated act of revenge, a stark reminder that the hazards of service can persist long after an officer has retired.
To his community, Chief Proffitt was a tireless hero; to his killer, he was a symbol of justice that needed to be eradicated. Yet, when his family sought the same federal death benefits granted to officers slain in the line of duty, they were denied on the grounds that he had officially retired three years prior.
According to the Daily Caller, this refusal revealed a glaring loophole in federal law, one that the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act of 2025 aims to rectify. The proposed legislation would modify the Public Safety Officers Benefits (PSOB) program to include retired law enforcement officers who are killed or permanently incapacitated as a result of a targeted attack stemming from their past service.
These are not arbitrary crimes or unrelated misfortunes; they are direct reprisals against individuals for their role in upholding the law. The perpetrators are not acting on impulse, but out of a desire for revenge against those who once arrested them, prosecuted them, or protected the innocent from them.
This bill is about rectifying an oversight that has inadvertently denied justice to families who have already sacrificed so much. It seeks to restore equity to the system and ensure that those who devote their lives to public safetyand their survivorsreceive the protection and recognition they deserve.
It also underscores a fundamental truth: an officers dedication to their community does not cease upon retirement, and neither should the protections granted to them for their service. A badge may be retired, but its legacyand the risks it embodiesendure.
Regrettably, Chief Proffitts case is not unique. In recent years, the nation has seen a disturbing increase in politically motivated violence, antagonism towards police, and targeted assaults on law enforcement. Officers have been ambushed in their patrol cars, ICE agents and border personnel have been threatened for enforcing federal law, and retired public servants have been harassed or attacked for their previous work. These actions are not merely crimes against individualsthey are assaults on the rule of law itself and on the principle that justice should be impervious to fear or retaliation.
When law enforcement officers, whether active or retired, become targets for performing their duties, the impact reverberates far beyond a single community. It deters potential recruits, erodes morale, and sends a dangerous message that those who enforce our laws will be left to fend for themselves. This is unacceptable. The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act seeks to rectify this by reaffirming that America will not abandon those who have wornor once worethe badge.
Support for this bill should supersede political affiliations. It embodies a straightforward, logical pledge: if you are attacked for upholding the law, your sacrifice will be recognized and your family safeguarded. This promise does not expire with retirement or the end of a career.
Chief Proffitt dedicated his life to restoring order in times of chaos. The least we can do is restore justice in the aftermath of his sacrificeand for every officer who continues to live under the shadow of the badge. The passage of this bill sends a clear message: America stands with those who uphold her laws, both in and out of uniform.
Republican Representative Andy Barr of Kentucky is spearheading the Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act in the House. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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