The U.S. Senate has approved legislation to ensure families of retired law enforcement officers killed or disabled as a result of their service are not denied benefits.

The bill is named after former Tompkinsville Police Chief Herbert D. Proffitt, who retired in 2009 after 55 years of service. On Aug. 28, 2012, he was killed in his driveway by a man he had arrested in the line of duty a decade earlier. Although his death was in retaliation for his service, his family was denied benefits under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program because he had retired.

Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced the bill earlier this year as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, which now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature. The Chief Herbert D. Proffitt Act would amend the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits program eligibility criteria for officers killed or permanently disabled due to a targeted attack directly resulting from their service. It would retroactively apply to claims starting on Jan. 1, 2012. The legislation is endorsed by the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police, the Kentucky Narcotic Officers Association, the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association, and the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police.

“The Tompkinsville Police Department is grateful to Senator McConnell for his work to support and honor our law enforcement families,” Tompkinsville Deputy Chief of Police Kerry L. Denton said. “Thirteen years later, we still mourn the loss of Chief Herbert ‘Sprocket’ Proffitt, a devoted father and leader in Tompkinsville who dedicated his life to keeping our community safe. We are proud to see his legacy honored with this important legislation.”