Widow of fire chief awarded $200,000

The Arkansas Claims Commission on Friday unanimously approved awarding $200,000 in death benefits to the widow of a former Trumann Fire Department chief who died after having a heart attack on duty.

Commission Director Norman Hodges said the commissioners “allowed the claim” to Bonnie Winkles of Trumann, “following the [state’s] admission of liability.”

Winkles was married to Trumann Fire Department Chief Rick Winkles when he responded to a grass fire on the edge of the city Jan. 28. The fire spread to a nearby structure, where Winkles and a fellow firefighter went in to suppress the blaze.

After exiting the building, Winkles complained of shortness of breath and spoke with a paramedic on the scene, who determined he was having a heart attack.

Winkles, 53, was taken to St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro , where he was pronounced dead at 7:20 p.m.

Winkles had worked for the department for 28 years and had been chief since 2004.

Bonnie Winkles, 52, filed the claim March 12.

Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Warren responded to the claim March 17 and agreed that the family was due benefits under Arkansas Code Annotated 21-5-704 and 21-5-705.

By law, the families of public employees killed in the line of duty are eligible for $50,000 and an additional $150,000 if they died while engaging in exceptionally hazardous work. The claims must be filed with the commission within five years of the employee’s death.

The awards are set by statute and do not require additional legislative approval.

Arkansas, Pages 10 on 04/12/2014

Upcoming Events