05/26/2026
As we remember our heroes “Jessica’s Law” has officially become law in the State of Vermont with Governor Phil Scott’s signing of S.89.
This is an extremely proud moment for the Vermont Police Association and without question, the most meaningful accomplishment I’ve personally been a part of in my career.
This effort began following the tragic line of duty death of Rutland City Police Department’s Officer Jessica Ebbighausen. Officer Ebbighausen’s loss shook the entire law enforcement community and served as a painful reminder of the risks our officers face every single day in service to others.
In the same year Officer Ebbighausen was killed, I became President of the Vermont Police Association and made a promise we’d put every effort into ensuring all of Vermont’s law enforcement officers were included in the State’s line of duty death benefits for surviving families. At the time, Vermont stood alone as the only state in New England without a state-paid line of duty death benefit for law enforcement officers.
We changed that.
“Jessica’s Law” ensures the sacrifice made by officers who give their lives in the line of duty will never again be met with the absence of state support for their surviving loved ones. While no law can ever heal the pain carried by surviving families, because what they’ve sacrificed is beyond our power to repay, this legislation sends a message the State of Vermont stands behind those left behind.
Action often results in struggle and errors, and this cause is what it means to dare greatly. There’re many people deserving of recognition for helping make this possible and the credit belongs to all of those who actively engaged in this worthy cause over the years.
We cannot thank Representative Mark Higley enough for sponsoring the first iterations of this bill and believing in its importance from the very beginning. Representative Ashley Bartley, Emilie Krasnow, State Representative, Representative Marc Mihaly, and the members of the House Committees on General & Housing for devoting an incredible amount of time, effort, and energy to these efforts over the years and never giving up on it.
Many thanks are also owed to Tanya Vyhovsky, Vermont State Senator, Senator Brian Collamore, and the members of the Senate Committee on Government Operations for their significant contributions in helping get S.89 passed this year.
We also want to sincerely thank Governor Phil Scott and the rest of the Vermont Legislature for recognizing the importance of this issue and ensuring this legislation crossed the finish line.
This accomplishment is for every law enforcement officer in Vermont, every surviving family member, and every person who believes those who make the ultimate sacrifice in service to others should never be forgotten.
Christopher Hoar
President
Vermont Police Association
Image courtesy of Jonny Castro Art
