Legislature clarifies officer pay
Legislation ensuring Tupelo Police Officer Joseph Maher can receive full compensation while healing from a gunshot wound passed both chambers of the Mississippi Legislature on Thursday.
The House bill, authored by Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, is labeled the “Gale Stauffer Jr. and Joseph Maher Law Enforcement Appreciation Act of 2014.” Stauffer was killed while responding to a Dec. 23 bank robbery while Maher was injured in the shooting and is still recovering.
Rep. Jerry Turner, R-Baldwyn, said there are questions about whether a change in law is needed to give a municipal government or a board of supervisors the authority to pay a law officer or firefighter injured in the line of duty, but said the legislation would remove any doubts.
Daily Journal
2/7/14
Magnolia Tribune
