Widow Of Groton Police Officer Asks For Tax Abatement For Spouses of Officers Killed in Line of Duty

The widow of a Groton Police Officer has asked the town to consider a tax abatement for widows of police officers killed in the line of duty.

Linda Schneider's husband, Paul Schneider, was a captain on the Groton Town Police Department and died after suffering a heart attack in August 1997.

Groton City Police Officer Bill Snyder, Fran Snyder's husband, was stuck by a car and killed on Eastern Point Road during a traffic assignment in 1994.

Linda Schneider wrote a letter to Town Mayor James Streeter on Feb. 8 asking the tax measure be considered.

“I know that times are tough right now, but know also that the widows have not received a cost of living increase in the last few years,” she wrote. She said health insurance costs have risen under the police department's contract, and a tax abatement “would be very beneficial to any of the widows whose spouses spent a good portion of their lives defending and protecting the citizens of Groton.”

The council considered a similar request about ten years ago, that would have applied to the surviving spouses of police officers and firefighters. It was voted down.

Councilor Paulann Sheets said she never understood that.

“Just intuitively it seems to me to make sense,” she said, adding, “It seems to involve a very few people; I think there were 14 people in the state of Connecticut currently eligible for such a benefit. We’re not going to break the budget by providing that amenity. . .”

Town Manger Mark Oefinger said Tuesday night he believes Schneider is the only officer killed in the line of duty in Groton.

Three councilors said they would be concerned about legislating such a tax benefit, however. Councilor Bill Johnson said said it could be argued an abatement should apply to other employees whose jobs carry risk.

“What if it’s one of our plow truck drivers,” Johnson said. “Why shouldn’t he get the same treatment if he gets killed plowing our streets?”

Three other councilors expressed a similiar sentiment.

“I am somewhat torn on the issue, because I think anybody who loses their life in the line of duty, whether it be police or fire, deserves gratitude of the town,” Councilor Bruce Flax said. “But I tend to agree with Councilor Johnson.  I don’t know where it would stop.”

The council decided to discuss the request after it finishes deliberations on the budget.