By Deborah Grigsby | Colorado Politics
Proponents of a measure that would create a $1 million death benefit for the families of officers killed in the line of duty submitted 199,067 signatures to the office of the Secretary of State in hopes of garnering a place on the November ballot.
Initiative 157, also known as the “Back The Blue” initiative would require the state to appropriate $350 million in funds already collected from taxpayers to the newly created Peace Officer Training and Support Fund within the Colorado Department of Public Safety.
The funding would not only enhance the recruiting, training, retention and compensation of law enforcement and peace officers across the state, but would also provide a death benefit of $1 million to surviving spouses, children, or estate of any peace officer killed in the line of duty.