
NH GOVERNOR SIGNS NEPBA SPONSORED LEGISLATION FOR INJURED POLICE OFFICERS
Concord, NH – NH House Bill HB1559-FN was signed into Law by Governor Chirs Sununu on July 12, 2024. The Bill provides financial security to Group II Retirees (Police and Fire) who are critically injured and are forced to retire, because of a violent act. This Bill was a culmination of cooperation between the NEPBA and the Manchester Police Union, and two heroic police officers who were the focus of this Bill.
Officer Paul Lewis was a Weare, New Hampshire Police Officer, with only 11 months on the job when he was shot in the arm during a domestic dispute call. He and his Sergeant, NEPBA member Austin Maguire were ambushed as they entered the home under a hail of gunfire. Officer Lewis underwent years of surgery and rehabilitation with the sincere intention of going back to work. After 2 years of not getting back to 100% and multiple surgeries, Officer Lewis was forced to medically retire.
The Town offered him 50% of his medical for 1 year and NOTHING more. Officer Lewis was financially burdened because of being shot on the job in the performance of his duties. Yet, the Town of Weare, NH did nothing to financially assist this hero or his family
Officer Dan Doherty, a Manchester Police Officer, was shot 9 times while on a call for service. Officer Doherty underwent many years of surgery and rehabilitation, only to also be medically retired. Both police officers are lucky to have survived such horrific life-threatening events.
After over three years of legislative malingering, NEPBA NH Legislative Director Stephen J. Arnold, Sr. was instrumental in writing a Bill that will forevermore take care of our first responders if they endure a critical injury on the job and are forced to retired, regardless of their years of service or employer. The NEPBA also garnered the support of State Senator Kevin Cavanaugh to sponsor the bill and acquire co-sponsors from both houses and parties.
However, the emotional testimony of both Officer Paul Lewis and Officer Daniel Doherty before the Senate subcommittee was instrumental. In fact, Officer Lewis’ testimony brought some to tears and we were assured by Senator Sharon Carson that this Bill would pass.
Yet, our Bill was filled with added amendments by certain members of the legislator and after a tense day of negotiations the Bill finally passed and was signed into law by out-going Governor Christopher Sununu.
The NEPBA is proud of all involved who worked so hard to assure passage of this legislation, including our Legislative Director Steve Arnold, retired Manchester Police Officer and former union president Ken Chamberlain, as well as retired Police Officers Lewis and Doherty.
The NEPBA has been instrumental in getting monumental Bills passed such as this one, including “Michael’s Law “named after slain Manchester Police Officer Michael Briggs, who was shot and killed in the line of duty. The $100,000 death benefit that was passed several years ago under the leadership of our Executive Director Jerry Flynn and then Governor John Lynch. The first recipient of this legislation was Police Chief Michael Maloney of Greenland, NH who was also shot and killed eight days before his retirement.