The Senate passed a bill, 29-4, Wednesday that would allow police officers to be eligible for workers’ compensation if they are faced with imminent danger of serious physical injury or death because of interaction with a mammal, such as a chimpanzee, while in the line of duty.
Police officers who face imminent danger because of other humans is already covered by existing law.
The bill was proposed by Sen. Andrew McDonald, D-Stamford, after an incident last year in his home town.
“The story of what happened is probably worse than any Alfred Hitchcock terrorizing movie,” said Sen. Edith Prague, D-Columbia, who spoke in favor of the bill.
McDonald told his colleagues about Stamford Police Officer Frank Chiafari, who responded to a call in 2009 and found a pet chimpanzee that went berzerk. Travis, the chimp, had mauled 56-year-old Charla Nash and then came after Chiafari, who had retreated to his police cruiser. Chiafari shot and killed the chimp, and he suffered severe emotional stress and went into a deep depression because of the incident, McDonald said.
Chiafari asked for workers’ compensation, but his request was denied because current law only applies to humans. The officer is currently appealing the decision, and if the bill becomes law, McDonald said he would be elgible for compensation.
McDonald, however, stressed that the bill was not proposed just for Chiafari. It is for future police officers who find themselves in imminent danger because of a mammal attack, he said, noting that those situations would be few. Likely, a mammal would have to be on top of an officer ready to rip his throat, McDonald said.
Workers’ compensation would only be given to police officers who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances, added Sen. Scott Frantz, R-Riverside, whose district includes Stamford. It sets high standards, he said.