TAMPA - Mickie Mashburn's tears, photographs and close friends couldn't persuade the Tampa Fire and Police Pension Board to award her the spousal death benefits of her slain partner, Tampa police Officer Lois Marrero.

The pension board voted 7-1 Tuesday to deny benefits to the fellow officer who shared her life with Marrero since 1991. The vote reaffirmed a decision the board made in July, which was appealed by Mashburn.

``There is no doubt in my mind today that Lois Marrero would have put my name on that list as her beneficiary,'' Mashburn said. She wept as she recalled the details of the day Marrero died.

Marrero, an 18-year police veteran, was never given the chance to name a beneficiary. She was shot and killed July 6 - days before the pension changed its policy to allow unmarried officers to name beneficiaries.

Marrero's death at the hands of a fleeing bank robber heightened public awareness about same-sex couples in the police department and touched off a debate about their lack of legal standing in pension and other matters.

Florida law doesn't recognize same-sex partners as spouses.

Karen Doering, Mashburn's lawyer, told the trustees of the pension board that Florida law prohibits employers from paying higher benefits to married employees. If she were eligible to receive spousal benefits, Mashburn could have collected half of Marrero's salary for the rest of her life.

Survivors of unmarried employees are eligible to collect money paid into the plan - in Marrero's case, about $50,000 - or death benefits for 10 years.

``This is not a gay issue,'' Doering said. ``We're not asking you to approve or accept their relationship or make a political statement.''

But gay rights' organizations such as Equality Florida have latched onto Mashburn's cause.

Doering and Mashburn said they would challenge Tuesday's decision in state court.

``Lois Marrero made the ultimate sacrifice for the city of Tampa,'' Doering said. ``She deserves the same benefits.''

Mashburn's co-workers, neighbors and family testified she and Marrero were a loving, devoted couple.

Marilyn Lee, a police officer who entered the academy with Marrero in 1982, said Mashburn was ``the most important person in Lois' life.'' She and others said they believed Marrero would have named Mashburn as her pension beneficiary if she had the chance.

But Marrero's family has described the couple's relationship as rocky. They said Marrero was involved with another woman in Texas shortly before she died. None of Marrero's relatives testified Tuesday.

Board Chairman Tom Singleton said Marrero's estate - family members who have opposed Mashburn's claim - is entitled to the $50,000 she paid into the pension, or 10 years of monthly payments totaling about $250,000 beginning in 2006.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

For a complete archive of video and articles regarding the shooting death of Tampa police Officer Lois Marrero, go to TBO.com and type in keyword: Marrero.

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