City paid medical bills for Conn. officer who shot rampaging chimp, according to records

City paid bills for Conn. officer who shot chimp

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Records show the Connecticut city of Stamford agreed to pay the medical bills of a police officer who was denied workers’ compensation after he shot and killed a chimpanzee.

Police say the officer shot the chimpanzee after it mauled a woman and then tried to get into his patrol car.

Officials say the officer was denied a claim for workers’ compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder because state law only applies to police shootings of people. Records obtained by The Associated Press on Friday indicate that, despite that rejection, the city did agree to pay the officer’s medical bills.

A state senator has introduced legislation designed to help the officer get workers’ compensation coverage in such cases.