Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe have been supported by federal financial programs after they were shot while on duty in Washington, D.C., the state’s adjutant general told state lawmakers.
Beckstrom, 20, and Wolfe, 24, were shot Nov. 26 while on duty in Washington, D.C. Beckstrom died on Thanksgiving Day, and Wolfe continues to recover from serious injuries.
During a budget hearing before the state House Finance Committee, Maj. Gen. James Seward was asked about ongoing financial support for National Guard members who risk or give their lives.
“How are we taking care of our Guard members who are injured in the line of duty?” asked Delegate John Paul Hott, R-Grant.
Seward responded that a range of federal benefits includes life insurance of about $500,000 “that they’re entitled to be able to purchase at a very, very low rate while they’re serving.
“Our Guard member that was in D.C., she was also a law enforcement agent because she was deputized as a US Marshal on that duty. And there’s a significant — in the hundreds of thousands of dollars death benefit that comes through the law enforcement arena.”
Seward continued by saying additional support includes casualty assistance and funeral assistance.”
“We do everything we can do, above and beyond, to take care of anybody that’s killed or injured in the line of duty,” Seward said.
Hott went on to ask about the circumstances of Wolfe, whose family says he is improving through time and ongoing treatment.
“We have someone in the Guard who has ongoing treatment — could go on for many months and could certainly be a permanent disability. Who is seeing that that person is taken care of financially? Is that a state responsibility, or is that a federal responsibility?” Hott asked.
Seward responded that the responsibility lies mostly with the federal government.
“But we ensure it’s being taken care of,” Seward said. “He’s still on orders, getting paid his normal pay and all of his hospitalization and treatment and everything is being taken care of through the federal system.”