A Season of Giving

A Season of Giving

Today is Giving Tuesday and in this season of giving, I would ask that you consider supporting some of the many organizations that support law enforcement. Here are some I recommend:

Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)
Each year, between 140 and 160 officers die in the line of duty and their families and co-workers are left to cope. C.O.P.S. provides… resources to help them rebuild their shattered lives. There is no membership fee to join C.O.P.S., for the price paid is already too high. C.O.P.S. was organized in 1984 with 110 individual members. Today, C.O.P.S. membership is over 65,000 survivors. Survivors include spouses, children, parents, siblings, significant others, and co-workers of officers who have died in the line of duty according to Federal government criteria. C.O.P.S. is governed by a national board of law enforcement survivors. All programs and services are administered by the National Office in Camdenton, Missouri. C.O.P.S. has over 50 chapters nationwide that work with survivors at the grass-roots level.
https://www.concernsofpolicesurvivors.org

Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation
Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation, Inc. (SBS) addresses the emotional and psychological needs, that arise from the loss of a loved one by suicide in the law enforcement profession. The family and co-workers of any active or retired law enforcement officer who has died by suicide in the United States and its territories may use the services of SBS. It all began with the generous hearts of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and Law Enforcement United (LEU). In January 2020, the National Board of C.O.P.S., voted to help start a separate organization for survivors of law enforcement suicide. The new organization would be modeled after C.O.P.S. and would bring the services offered by C.O.P.S. to law enforcement suicide survivors by providing Survivor Weekend Retreats and a peer support network to survivors. With the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), supporting this mission, Shelley and Laurie began the journey alongside a committee of survivors. SBS was made possible through the generous donations made by the C.O.P.S.’ National Board and Past Leadership and Law Enforcement United.
https://www.survivorsofbluesuicide.org/donate

Care of Police Suicide Survivors (COPSS)
Founded by Janice McCarthy and Daughter Shannon C.O.P.S.S. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide CARE and SUPPORT for Law Enforcement Suicide Survivors and Suicide Prevention. My husband, Captain Paul McCarthy died from suicide in July of 2006 after suffering from job-related PTSD for 13 years. During his 21- year- career he was involved in several serious accidents including being hit and injured twice by drunk drivers and nearly killed in 1993 when he was run over by a stolen transit bus. This accident proved to be the etiology of the PTSD which ended up taking his life. In the aftermath of Paul’s death, we (myself and our children) quickly became familiar with terms like “complicated grief” and “stigma”. We soon realized there was a lack of supports for Survivors. The experience of being a Suicide Survivor is traumatic. Survivors need an inclusive community to help validate their emotions and negotiate through their grief to healing.
https://www.copss.info/donation/

First Help/Blue Help
Honoring the Service of First Responders Who Died by Suicide
First H.E.L.P. reduces mental health stigma for First Responders through education, advocating for benefits for those suffering from post-traumatic stress, acknowledging the service and sacrifice of First Responders lost to suicide, assisting officers in their search for healing, bringing awareness to suicide and mental health issues, and caring for first responder families in the aftermath of a suicide loss. By donating to 1st H.E.L.P., you are helping to raise awareness, support families and provide education on 1st Responder Suicide. Donations are used by 1st H.E.L.P across our organization to support Blue, Red, White, and Gold families providing retreat opportunities, scholarships, trainings, and care packages.
https://bluehelp.org/donate/

Safe Call Now
Safe Call Now is a CONFIDENTIAL, comprehensive, 24-hour crisis referral service for all public safety employees, all emergency services personnel and their family members nationwide. We provide education, support, healthy alternatives and resources to save lives and put families back together. We are a 501c3 non profit organization, and as such your donation may be tax deductible. No goods or services were provided in exchange for this donation.
https://www.safecallnowusa.org/donate

Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)
The Officer Down Memorial Page, Inc., (ODMP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring America’s fallen law enforcement officers. More than 26,000 officers have died in the line of duty in the United States since 1776 and ODMP is honored to preserve their memories and give friends, family, other officers, and citizens alike the opportunity to remember the fallen and honor their sacrifices.
https://odmp.org/donate

National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund (NLEMF)
The purpose of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is to honor the role of law enforcement, in service to society, by recognizing the sacrifices and valor of law enforcement, educating the community, and making it safer for those who serve. A nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Washington, DC, the Memorial Fund built and continues to maintain the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial—the nation’s monument to law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. The Memorial Fund is a principal organizer of the National Police Week observance each May and hosts a Candlelight Vigil each May 13th to honor all fallen officers. In addition, the Memorial Fund maintains the largest, most comprehensive database of line-of-duty officer deaths, conducts research into officer fatality trends and issues, and serves as an information clearinghouse. More recently, the Memorial Fund has built the National Law Enforcement Museum, adjacent to the Memorial in Washington, DC. The Museum tells the story of American law enforcement through exhibits, collections, research and education.
https://nleomf.org/support/individual-giving/

While The Law Enforcement Survival Institute (LESI) is NOT a non-profit organization we could use your help too. Please consider a donation here: www.CopsAlive.com/donate

Leave your comments in the box below

CopsAlive is written to prompt discussions within our profession about the issues of law enforcement career survival, health and wellness. We invite you to share your opinions, ask questions and suggest topics for us in the Comment Box that is at the bottom of this article.

At The Law Enforcement Survival Institute (LESI) we train law enforcement officers to cope with stress and manage all the toxic effects and hidden dangers of a career in law enforcement.

Our “Armor Your Self™: How to Survive a Career in Law Enforcement” on-site training program is an eight hour, hands-on, “How to” seminar based upon John Marx’ book of the same name. This seminar helps police officers and other law enforcement professionals armor themselves physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually to build Tactical Resilience™ and survive their careers in police work. To learn more CLICK HERE. To learn about and buy the book CLICK HERE.

The Tactical Resilience™ and Ethical Policing Project (TREPP) is our international initiative to promote the health and resiliency of law enforcement professionals by conditioning our people physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, as well as paying attention to strengthening their mindset, level of personal mastery, depth of their social support system sand their financial fitness. It also provides a set of tools and techniques that, replenish their spiritual health and, restores their inner peace and clarity. TREPP is expandable to meet the needs of your community and your budget and can use training, assessments and consulting to assist you where you need it. We build human resilience, create processes to enhance agency support systems, promote a culture of wellness, and most importantly initiate community lead projects thru our Law enforcement officers as Community Action Leaders (LoCAL) initiative.
CLICK HERE to download our InfoSheet on TREPP.

The concept of “True Blue Valor™” is where one law enforcement officer has to muster the courage to confront a peer who is slipping both professionally and personally and endangering themselves, their peers and the public. It takes a system of organizational support and professional leadership to support and foster the concept of courage and intervention. We will train your trainers to deliver this program to your agency.
To learn more CLICK HERE

Our “Armor Your Agency™: How to Create a Healthy and Supportive Law Enforcement Agency” Program includes critical strategies that you will need to build a system of support and encouragement for a healthy and productive agency. To learn more CLICK HERE

CLICK HERE to read more about The Law Enforcement Survival Institute.

CLICK HERE if you would like to contact us to learn more about training for your organization.

I’m John Marx, Founder of The Law Enforcement Survival Institute and the Editor of CopsAlive.com. Connect with me on Facebook, LinkedIn Twitter. and Instagram.

CopsAlive.com was founded to provide information and strategies to help police officers successfully survive their careers and improve their heathy, wellness and effectiveness. We help law enforcement officers and their agencies prepare for the risks that threaten their existence. Thank you for reading!