Agenda Item Request
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Discussion on how to proceed if placed in the unfortunate position of supporting a Line of Duty Death (LODD) funeral.
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Background and Purpose of Request
Being nationally accredited requires the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office to continually update our policies. In 2023, Lieutenant Don Foss and I attended a County Commissioners’ workshop and requested a recurring budget line that could be utilized in the unthinkable event of a Line of Duty Death (LODD). Although we hope to never experience a LODD, we have now seen five (5) first responders who have died in the line of duty over the last eight (8) years in Maine, making this very real possibility a priority.
At the aforementioned workshop, I was encouraged to see if the Maine County Commissioner Risk Pool would pay for any funeral expenses. After much effort, I received an answer earlier this year from the Maine County Commissioners Risk Pool; they felt my question was best answered at the individual county level. Therefore, I would like to revisit this issue at the Cumberland County Commissioner level. This is an issue that will never go away and I prefer not to wait for a tragic event to occur to discuss this. A LODD can occur in both the law enforcement field and the corrections field, so we must consider both departments.
I contacted two (2) Sheriffs, a Lieutenant from Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (Game Warden), and the Colonel of the Maine State Police, all of which have had recent experience in planning a funeral for members of their agency. I found that the costs of the LODD funerals and how the services were paid for were different.
Somerset County, Corporal Eugene Cole - LODD April 25th, 2018
The funeral director services, cremation, and cremation vase were provided at no cost. The funeral home advised that because it was a line of duty death, costs were covered through a first responder agreement. I am not aware of the “first responder agreement” mentioned by Sheriff Dale Lancaster. The transportation costs for the family were covered through Hight, a local car dealership where Somerset County purchases their vehicles.
Maine State Police, Detective Ben Campbell - LODD April 3rd, 2019
The Maine Troopers Association covered most of the costs of Detective Campbell’s funeral services and the State of Maine covered the remainder.
Hancock County, Deputy Sheriff Luke Gross - LODD September 23rd, 2021
Teamsters Local 340 budgeted $15,000 to pay for the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, lighting and sound system, flowers, and the rooms and expenses for the Maine State Police Honor Guard who assisted with the process. Hancock County paid approximately $10,000 for all of the funeral expenses. These expenses included transportation costs from the scene of the accident to the Medical Examiner’s Office and back to the funeral home for preparation for eventual cremation, visiting hours at the funeral home, transportation to the crematory and back to the funeral home, transportation from the funeral home to the Cross Insurance Center, canopies for the funeral service, and a canopy over Deputy Gross’ vehicle as a memorial. Transportation of the family was donated by a local bus service.
Maine Warden Service, Warden Pilot Joshua Tibbetts - LODD May 12th, 2026
A Maine Warden Service Lieutenant who was close to Warden Pilot Tibbetts informed me that the funeral expenses were paid for by donations from the Maine State Police Union, Maine Warden Service Union, Operation Game Thief, Workmen’s Compensation, and Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.
The funeral costs for a LODD can become very costly because these types of funerals are not conventional with conventional funeral costs. A LODD funeral will attract large numbers of first responders nationwide and, in some cases, internationally (Canada). The costs incurred beyond a typical funeral usually involves rental of a large venue and all that comes with renting that venue, such as security and administrative staff, sound system rental, potential porta-potty rentals, family transportation, water/refreshments, funeral arrangements that may last for four (4) or more hours, and the burial plot, which may or may not be already retained by the family.
Additionally, I would be remiss not to mention that on the following May of a LODD, the employee’s name is added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. It would be expected for us to send at least one (1) member of the Sheriff’s Office as well as a member of the deceased’s family to the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington DC to honor their sacrifice.
Requestor
Sheriff Kevin Joyce, Sheriff’s Office
Funding Amount and Source
Although there may be donations of services or a donation from the employee’s union, there are no guarantees. LODD funerals are large in nature and costs can range from $50,000 - $60,000. LODD funerals are comprised of specific traditions and the wishes of the families. While this event does not constitute an open checkbook mentality, we need to develop a procedure ahead of time, so that IF this occurs, we would already have a plan to follow.
The most recent Maine LODD funeral was approximately $60,000. I recommend $25,000 be placed in a recurring budget line for LODD funeral costs. If a LODD occurs, we would request each union to match that amount if necessary.