VIDEO: Utah Officer's Widow Says State's Survivor Benefits Need to Improve
The murder of Utah County Sgt. Cory Wride Jan. 30 during a traffic stop in Eagle Mountain exposed a fault with Utah's retirement plan for police officers, Wride's widow Nannette Wride says.
Wride learned the state of Utah won’t honor her husband's police pension, and she’s losing her health coverage. Had her husband reached 20 years of service, he could have retired and collected 50 percent of his salary for the rest of his life from the Utah retirement system, KSL reports. He had served 19 years and three months when he was killed.
As it stands, Wride’s family gets a one-time payment of $1,500. They also receive $1,863 per month, which is 37 percent of Wride’s salary, plus $50 per month for each minor child. Wride said next year it will cost $1,400 per month to continue her husband’s county health plan.
State Rep. Paul Ray is stepping in to help Wride who is now struggling with the state over benefits. The Utah Fraternal Order of Police is also calling for change.
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