Millville, NJ -
They were fellow officers with the Millville, NJ police department. And they were husband and wife.
But 10 weeks after Officer Chris Reeves' death in a terrible car crash, his wife is still suffering.
"I'm barely here," says Sue Reeves. "I'm barely functioning. I put a good game face on, but I've got to tell you, I'm barely hanging on."
Sue Reeves says she was awakened and called to the police station around 2:30 a.m. on July 8- told there was an issue with Chris.
"They brought me in," says Sue. "I did answer some phones in dispatch. I was, at the time, essentially working."
She would soon learn her husband had died in the crash.
The shock and sadness of that morning would later turn to anger when she applied for workman's compensation for her Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
On Monday, she received a brief letter from Millville's claims adjustor, saying her condition does not appear to be work-related.
Claim Denied.
"I'm like, really? I didn't- no explanation- nothing. I mean, I would at least expect, 'hey, this is the reason we did this.'"
Reeves cares for the couple's 2-year old son Alex.
They now live on Chris' benefits and life insurance.
Sue had hoped to wait until her mental health improves and return to work in January.
But she needs the second paycheck and without the workman's comp, she fears she'll be forced back to work within weeks.
"I've already got it in my head that I'm going back to work soon," she says. "And I'm terrified of that."
While Sue figures out whether she can appeal the adjustor's decision, there may be a sliver of hope on the horizon.
The city of Millville is about to pass new legislation- to be made retroactive- that would appear to allow Sue's fellow officers to donate part of their unused leave- vacation and sick time- to her.
That would allow her to stay off the job until she's mentally ready to come back.
