The emphasis of having a living will, life insurance, and regularly updating beneficiaries cannot be overstated. We have seen many life insurance benefits go to ex-spouses, leaving the current spouse without benefits. Whoever is on the document as the beneficiary gets the money. The PSOB has new guidelines and if there is no current spouse or children, the benefit goes to whoever is listed as beneficiary on the most recent life insurance policy. These documents need to be kept current.

Our suggestion to alleviate this problem is the Confidential Line of Duty Death Notification Form. A copy of one is attached with our sample Line of Duty Death Policy. We urge each and every department to have your officers fill these out on at least an annual basis. Make this a part of your yearly in-service program. These documents need to be kept away from the department, possibly in your local FOP or chaplain's office so they cannot be obtained legally by the public.