The widow of one of the five police officers slain in an ambush in Dallas last year has filed a lawsuit against the Dallas Police Association and the Assist the Officer Foundation over the handling of donations.
Dallas Police Detective Katrina Aherns, the widow of Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens claims that funds are being held hostage, according to a statement from the law firm Griffith Bates Champion & Harper.
"Following the 2016 shooting, the public generously donated millions of dollars to the families of the five fallen police officers. The ATO collected these funds, but (Dallas Police Officer Frederick) Frazier is attempting to impose unlawful limitations on the families' use of the funds and has ordered all donations for Det. Ahrens be withheld unless she concedes to his demands," the lawsuit contends.
Dallas Police Association President Mike Mata told NBCDFW that he doesn't understand why the lawsuit is coming up now. He said that the Assist the Officer foundation collected millions of dollars following the July 7, 2016 ambush and created trust funds for the survivors.
"We just felt that it was the right thing to do that this money would last not just for the spouse but for the children," he said.
While Ahrens is seeking accountability, the DPA believes the lawsuit could hurt future fundraising efforts.
"To put this dark cloud, this shadow and to besmirch the name of Assist The Officer foundation that has done so much for so many people, is shameful," Mata said.
