Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, sponsored legislation that passed the Senate 34-1 on Thursday to help law enforcement officers who are permanently disabled in the line of duty with health insurance costs for their families. Jorgenson worked on the bill for five years, after Coeur d'Alene police officer Mike Kralicek suffered critical injuries when he was shot in the face by a fleeing suspect in 2004; Kralicek lost the health insurance he used to provide for his family once he was no longer employed, so the family has to buy its own insurance. The bill funds the program entirely through slightly increased retirement contributions from the officers it covers.
Section:Photo
