DeNapoli Supporters Start Online Petition

In the wake of the state legislature kicking back a home rule petition to provide retirement benefits to Officer Robert DeNapoli because the bill was not signed by the mayor, supporters of the officers have started an online petition. 

DeNapoli was shot multiple times and seriously wounded during an armed robbery in 2011. The bill stated that DeNapoli would be able to retire on disability at his current age of 52 and receive 100 percent of the pay he would have received until age 65. After that, he would receive a disability pension equal to 100 percent of his pay for the rest of his life. 

Mayor Scott Galvin originally asked the city council to approve special legislation that also allowed DeNapoli to receive 100 percent of what he would have made until the age of 65, but would have then had his pension cut to 80 percent of his pay after that age. 

Galvin told The Daily Time Chronicle after it was rejected by the state due to a lack of his signature that he and the city council will meet to come up with a package that is agreeable to all involved. Calls from Patch to the mayor's office have not been returned. 

After the petition was rejected by the state, supports of Officer DeNapoli began an online petition that supports him receiving 100 percent pay for the rest of his life. 

Here is the text of the petition's opening letter. Click this link to view the petition. 

"Mayor Scott Galvin must sign this legislation in order for it to be accepted for vote by the State Legislature.  It was passed by the Woburn City Council on June 12."  

"This legislation ensures that Officer Robert DeNapoli will receive the same benefits as all other Police Officers shot or catastrophically injured in the line of duty: 100% Disability Retirement."

"Officer DeNapoli was shot repeatedly as first responder to a jewelry store robbery in Woburn on September 6, 2011.  Six bullets and hundreds of pieces of shrapnel fully penetrated his body, including those which damaged his optic nerve and amputated his trigger finger.  As a result of his actions, Officer DeNapoli has suffered a profound loss of vision and cannot perform the duties expected of a Police Officer.  He has no choice but to retire from the force." 

"This legislation not only honors and acknowledges the actions of Officer Robert DeNapoli, but also pays tribute to all our first responders. It is the very least that we can do for those who put their lives on the line for us everyday." 

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