By David B. Caruso
Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK — After a five-year battle, the U.S. government has dropped its effort to prevent a volunteer firefighter killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks from receiving a federal death benefit for public safety officers who die on the job.
Glenn Winuk rushed to the burning World Trade Center towers to tend to victims but died when the skyscrapers collapsed. For years, the U.S. Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance fought his family’s effort to collect a $250,000 (euro167,943) payment due to police officers, firefighters and other government emergency workers killed in the line of duty.
The agency had said the benefit was only intended for active-duty public safety officers, and Winuk did not qualify because he had not been on regular duty with his volunteer department since 1998.
The long court battle finally ended on Jan. 10, after the Office of the Solicitor General decided to drop its last appeal.
“It’s really terrific. This fight has gone on too long,” said Glenn’s brother, Jay Winuk.
He added that he hoped U.S. President George W. Bush would now decide to award his late brother the 9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor, which was given to the relatives of 442 public safety officers killed in the attacks.
A number of New York officials supported the family’s campaign, including state lawmakers who passed a statute declaring that Winuk died in the line of duty.