NEW YORK, NY March 24, 2008 —Senator Charles Schumer and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly lobbied on behalf of two fallen New York City auxiliary police officers who were denied thousands of dollars in death benefits by the Department of Justice because they were volunteers.

Schumer and Kelly say the families of officers Eugene Marshalik and Nicholas Pekearo's are entitled to over $300,000 in federal benefits - because they died in the line of duty. Instead, Schumer says, it appears someone a the DOJ is cutting corners:

SCHUMER: If they want to look for a loophole - they'll find it and what we have to do is to persuade the Justice Department to stop playing these tawdry and really, low games.

REPORTER: The Department of Justice has not commented on the case.

An appeal hearing on the benefits for the officers will be held this week. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says he'll testify on their behalf.