Thumbs-up for Aug. 21
To providing for all the children of fallen state troopers. After a New Jersey State Police trooper with Burlington County ties was killed in the line of duty earlier this year, his fianceé and children were not eligible for full benefits under current pension law. Thanks to local legislators, including Assemblyman Troy Singleton, D-7th of Palmyra; Sen. Diane Allen, R-7th of Edgewater Park; and Senate President Steve Sweeney, D-1st of West Deptford, a bill to expand survivors' benefits was signed into law last week. Now all minor children of troopers who die in the line of duty are entitled to 70 percent of the their benefits, including children of unmarried couples, and until age 24 if they’re still in college. Trooper Sean Cullen, a Cinnaminson High School and Lycoming College graduate, was a member of the police forces in Sea Isle City and Mount Holly before becoming a trooper. He was struck and killed by a car on Interstate 295 in West Deptford while responding to the scene of an accident. We ask so much of them; it’s only right that we do what we can to care for their children.