UPDATED: The city of Philadelphia has determined that Police Officer Moses Walker, who was killed when two men tried to rob him in North Philadelphia, died in the line of duty. The finding will enable Walker's familiy to get city payments for his funeral expenses and other benefits.
Mayor Michael Nutter called Walker's mother today and told her of the determination, made by the city law department.
Walker was killed in civilian clothes after he'd completed his overnight shift on August 18th.
According to Nutter's spokesman Mark McDonald, the Walker family will receive $15,000 in funeral expenses from the city, and his survivors will receive a service-connected death pension.
The finding that Walker died in the line of duty will also trigger payments of $419,000 in state and federal funds dedicated to the families of public safety officers killed while performing their jobs.
McDonald said the determination regarding the status of Walker's death followed the normal course for such events, which include a recommendation by the police department and a review by the city law department.
Earlier Thursday, City Councilman Jim Kenney held a news conference to urge the prompt approval of service-connected death benefits for Walker.
"I was at the Deliverance Church for Officer Walker's funeral," said Kenney. "To see the 100 family members that were devastated by this wonderful man's loss, and to hear the platitudes that were spoken about him, and then to hear that he tried to stop an armed robbery and was killed and he was not on duty."
Kenney said he wants to put together a panel that would review all city worker deaths to determine if they occurred in the line of duty.
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