Newtown Police Officer Traumatized By Sandy Hook School Shooting Could Be Fired
NEWTOWN, Conn. (CBSNewYork) -- A Newtown police officer traumatized by the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre last December remains out of work and could lose his job.
Officer Thomas Bean, a 12-year department veteran, was off-duty when 20-year-old Adam Lanza walked into the school and gunned down six educators and 20 first-graders on Dec. 14, 2012.
After hearing about the shooting, Bean immediately raced to the school, but the horrific scene inside the building has left him traumatized.
Newtown Police Officer Who Responded To Sandy Hook Shooting Could Be Fired
Now, nearly a year later, Bean is unable to function as a police officer, according to police union attorney Eric Brown.
Bean has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and the town will cover only two years of disability payments, Brown said.
"I think the town is hesitant about actually terminating him, but at the same token they're not taking any steps to make sure that he's financially secure," Brown told WCBS 880's Fran Schneidau. "He's legitimately worried about financial devastation."
WCBS 880 has put a call in to Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra for comment, but the call has not been returned.
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