Widow, children of fallen Fed Way officer to finally get benefits
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SEATTLE -- After a year of denials for a police officer's widow and a Problem Solvers investigation, the state has made a stunning about-face.
The widow of Federal Way police officer Brian Walsh and her children will now get the financial benefits they desperately need.
The Walsh family is beyond relieved. Yesterday, they didn't know how they would make ends meet. Today's news means financial and medical benefits for Vanessa Walsh and her three young children.
"As a cop's wife, you worry every day what's going to happen if something happens. 'How are we going to do it?'" said Vanessa. "He (Brian) always told me, 'You're going to be taken care of don't worry about it.'"
But shortly after her husband died, Vanessa learned she and her three children were on their own.
"I didn't understand being denied," she said.
Because Brian died of a heart attack while guarding a crime scene, the state insisted he didn't die in the line of duty and denied his widow benefits.
The Problem Solvers were the first to expose Vanessa's struggle and question the denial. Then, Vanessa learned if she could prove Brian suffered from "unusual stress", she could collect a portion of his salary and get medical coverage for her family.
At the time of his death, Brian was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after being involved in a prior police shooting. His doctor told the state Brian's PTSD worsened when four Lakewood officers and a Seattle officer were gunned down in 2009 a few months prior to his death.
"I had to fight and fight, and fight for his memory," said Vanessa. "Just having to not deal with that, that's a piece I can finally rest about. And I know my husband would be happy about (this), and (this is) what he expected."
"She has battled through this like a hero," said Mark Wagner, the attorney representing the Walsh family. "She's not going to get wealthy; there's no big money for her. But she is going to be able to pay her bills and provide medical for her children."
Vanessa says with this nagging distraction over, she can finally focus on her grief.
"I think he can rest now, knowing we are going to be taken care of," she said.
Vanessa said if it hadn't been for her attorney and police widow Renee Maher, she would have ended up with nothing. They helped her navigate through the process.
Vanessa had hoped her case would pave the way for wives of other police officers who suffer heart attacks, but because this decision is so narrow, it's clear it will not.
The widow of Federal Way police officer Brian Walsh and her children will now get the financial benefits they desperately need.
The Walsh family is beyond relieved. Yesterday, they didn't know how they would make ends meet. Today's news means financial and medical benefits for Vanessa Walsh and her three young children.
"As a cop's wife, you worry every day what's going to happen if something happens. 'How are we going to do it?'" said Vanessa. "He (Brian) always told me, 'You're going to be taken care of don't worry about it.'"
But shortly after her husband died, Vanessa learned she and her three children were on their own.
"I didn't understand being denied," she said.
Because Brian died of a heart attack while guarding a crime scene, the state insisted he didn't die in the line of duty and denied his widow benefits.
The Problem Solvers were the first to expose Vanessa's struggle and question the denial. Then, Vanessa learned if she could prove Brian suffered from "unusual stress", she could collect a portion of his salary and get medical coverage for her family.
At the time of his death, Brian was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after being involved in a prior police shooting. His doctor told the state Brian's PTSD worsened when four Lakewood officers and a Seattle officer were gunned down in 2009 a few months prior to his death.
"I had to fight and fight, and fight for his memory," said Vanessa. "Just having to not deal with that, that's a piece I can finally rest about. And I know my husband would be happy about (this), and (this is) what he expected."
"She has battled through this like a hero," said Mark Wagner, the attorney representing the Walsh family. "She's not going to get wealthy; there's no big money for her. But she is going to be able to pay her bills and provide medical for her children."
Vanessa says with this nagging distraction over, she can finally focus on her grief.
"I think he can rest now, knowing we are going to be taken care of," she said.
Vanessa said if it hadn't been for her attorney and police widow Renee Maher, she would have ended up with nothing. They helped her navigate through the process.
Vanessa had hoped her case would pave the way for wives of other police officers who suffer heart attacks, but because this decision is so narrow, it's clear it will not.
