During the signing ceremony for three bills designed to support law enforcement and first responders, President Biden took some time to speak to the 7-year-old son of an officer who took his own life in 2019.
Biden signed the Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021, the Confidentiality Opportunities for Peer Support Counseling Act or the COPS Counseling Act, the Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act Thursday morning.
All three serve to support law enforcement through increased benefits, peer support, and granting the US extraterritorial jurisdiction over certain crimes against federal officers or employees abroad.
Shortly after signing the bills, Biden was spotted speaking with Jake Bomba and was pictured putting his hand on the boy’s arm. The president also handed Jake the pen he signed the bills with.
Jake’s dad was Officer Thomas Bomba, 38, who took his own life in October 2019 after suffering a training injury ten years prior that led to an a flesh-eating bacteria infection. Bomba had worked for the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland for 13 years.
Approximately 30-40 people were in attendance at the signing ceremony, including Bomba’s widow Angela and older son Tommy. Several members of Congress, Vice President Kamala Harris and representatives from law enforcement organizations were also present.
