Not quite three months after police officer Michael Chesna was shot and killed in the line of duty, the town of Weymouth is about to award his widow death benefits.
The benefit will be calculated based on the rank of sergeant, which Chesna was posthumously promoted to after the July shooting.
Rep. Jerald Parisella from Beverly is the House co-chair the Public Service Committee, which must sign off on the bill before the authorization becomes law.
"Unfortunately, nothing can take away what happened to Sergeant Chesna but we feel it's important and if we can provide his family with a little more financial security then that's important to do so,” he said.
The bill is expected to make it to Gov. Charlie Baker's desk soon.
"Hopefully it sends a message to his family that we really appreciate the service of Staff Sergeant Chesna and what he's done to support his community,” Parisella said.
Town officials are also working to relieve Chesna's widow, Cynthia, of local property taxes in her home town of Hanover.
