Crime & Safety

Fundraiser Aims to Support Newtown Officer with PTSD

Newtown Officer Thomas Bean's case made national headlines when the 12-year police veteran would be threatened with dismissal when his long-term disability — paid due to the post-traumatic stress disorder he suffered in the aftermath of the 12/14 shooting — ran out.

Now an online petition is seeking to raise hundreds of thousands to support the officer.

Started by Aune Mitchell, the Thomas Bean & Family Fund was launched on November 22 and has raised $195 to date, out of a desired goal of $750,000, with 64 shares on Facebook.

"The more people we reach, the more money we can raise," Mitchell told Patch. "Thomas Bean deserves all the support and respect he can get."

Mitchell created the fund with the approval of Bean and his family. Police union head Scott Ruszczyk confirmed the existence of a family fund to Patch and said he still had not learned when Bean would go before a hearing to determine if he would lose his job.

"We're waiting for a second hearing date, and we'll make our arguments then they shouldn't be terminating someone on long-term disability," Ruszczyk told Patch in October. "The town's last offer was in no way acceptable. They offered to pay him, but only a very small portion of what they actually owe him."

Bean's case attracted coverage from national media, including CNN and NBC's "The Today Show," where he told host Savannah Guthrie he wanted the town to continue his benefits until his normal retirement date, "just like they agreed to in the collective bargaining agreement."

A previous online petition launched by Sandy Hook resident Karen Dwyer has gathered 1,291 signatures to date in support of Bean.

Town officials, including Chief Michael Kehoe, have refrained from commenting publicly on the case on the advice of lawyers.


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