What we do

After a municipal city employee is killed in the line of duty, the HERO board of directors verifies that the employee was killed in the course and scope of city work, determines the employee's dependents, and determines the designated life insurance beneficiary.

Within days of the death, three members of the board accompany city representatives to the spouse's/dependents' home. There, they offer the dependents their sympathy and ask if there is anything the HERO representatives can do. They offer them their shoulders to cry on, they make sure the dependents have the phone numbers they need for workers' compensation and life insurance, and they bring a $2,500 check to be used for funeral and other expenses incurred by the employee's death.

After the funeral, two members of the board meet with the spouse/dependent to do an assessment of other financial needs, such as debts that cannot be met by the single spouse or parent. The HERO representatives, as the Benefits Committee, then met with the HERO board of directors, and together they determine how much additional financial assistance to give the spouse and dependents. This amount includes setting up a college fund for all dependent children.

After that second check is cut, HERO representatives maintain contact with the dependents. They check periodically to ensure the dependents' emotional and financial needs are being met.