Workers' compensation bill initiated by chimp attack moves to Senate

Posted on 03/11/2010

By TOM EVANS

Times Staff Writer

STAMFORD -- A Connecticut legislative committee has sent a bill to the Senate floor that would allow police officers to seek workers' compensation coverage for stress after using deadly force on animals.

State Sen. Andrew McDonald, D-27, co-sponsored House Bill 168 with State Rep. Ernest Hewett, D-39. McDonald said that State Sen. Edith Prague, D-19, contributed to the drafting of the bill.

The bill, which passed the Public Safety and Security Committee on Thursday, stems from a highly publicized incident on Feb. 16, 2009, when a 200-pound pet chimpanzee went on a rampage in Stamford and mauled its owner's friend.

Frank Chiafari, the Stamford police officer who shot and killed the animal, told state lawmakers how he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder because of the harrowing experience, but his claim for workers' compensation coverage was denied.

"This law will only apply in situations where an officer in the line of duty (has to use deadly force) because the officer is in imminent risk of serious injury or death," McDonald said. "Our hope is we'll never have a case where the law is necessary for such a horrible instance of danger, but this law should apply for that circumstance."

On the Web site www.cga.ct.gov, SB 168 is described as a way "to provide workers' compensation coverage for mental or emotional impairment for a police officer required to use deadly force on an animal that attempts to injure such police officer."

Committee members said they expect the bill will be amended in the Senate to tighten the language to make sure the provision can't be abused.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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This whole thing is blown out of proportion. This cop was in his car. His car is a tool. All he had to do was put in gear and drive away or mow the monkey down with it. He had time. The monkey went to the passenger side first. How many cops have been attacked by large dogs and had to put them down and haven''t cried about PTSD. What about the EMS people that had to deal with the woman missing her face. You don''t see Andrea and Rick complaining. Give me a beak!!

Posted by: anonymous | Mar 12, 2010
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