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April 18, 2026 Clouds | 57°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Bill S.1831 194th (Current)

An Act providing killed in the line of duty benefits to Joanne Songy, surviving spouse of Detective John D. Songy, a police officer of the town of Rutland

By Mr. Durant, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1831) of Peter J. Durant, Kimberly N. Ferguson, Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr. and Bruce E. Tarr for legislation to provide killed in the line of duty benefits to Joanne Songy, surviving spouse of Detective John D. Songy, a police officer of the town of Rutland. Public Service. [Local Approval Received.]

Bill Information

Presenter:
Peter J. Durant
Status:
Referred to Senate Committee on Bills in the Third Reading
City/Town:
Rutland (Local Approval Required)
Special Attachments:
Committee - Senate member votes

This legislation would provide Detective John Songy’s wife with killed in the line of duty benefits. Detective Songy tragically passed away on May 29, 2020 after contracting COVID-19 while on duty with the Rutland Police Department. Massachusetts has acknowledged Detective Songy’s death as a line of duty death by etching his name on the Law Enforcement Memorial outside the State House in Ashburton Park. Additionally, Detective Songy has been memorialized at the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Songy has been advocating for this legislation for 4 years now and she still waits for her benefits. She has gone through the legal process and has fought day and night for a fix to this. As time as gone on, it has become clear that the only solution to help Mrs. Songy is to pass this legislation.

* The bill summary was created by the Primary Sponsor of the bill; no committee of the General Court certifies the accuracy of its contents.

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