It was a brief, but emotional bill signing ceremony. Senior Deputy Pat Dailey's sons, Tyler and Bryan stood behind Governor Larry Hogan as it becamelaw.
"Our state owes families like those of Deputies Dailey and Logsdon a tremendous debt, and this is one small way that we can honor their sacrifice," said Governor Hogan.
Back in February, the Harford County Sheriff's Deputies were shot and killed after responding to a call at the Abingdon Panera Bread.
While the men were being laid to rest, the Harford County Delegation introduced emergency legislation to help the families.
Under the current law, Deputy First Class Mark Logsdon's wife will receive pension payments for the rest of her life. The new bill will help Tyler and Bryan.
"He always told me, it's your life, do what you want to,” Tyler said at his father’s funeral. “Well, I still want to be like my father, and it would be an honor to be half the man that he was."
Starting with them, the children of any police officer killed in the line of duty will receive their parent's benefits until they turn 26-years-old. That's eight years longer than the previous law, and means the 17 and 20-year-old brothers are both eligible.
"They're like little pieces of iron, they're almost unbreakable,” Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said. “Something like this took us to the breaking point, but did not break us."
Download the ABC2 News app for the iPhone, Kindle and Android.
