At CopsAlive.com we focus on helping policing professionals survive this law enforcement career, but line of duty death is a reality we must prepare for in this profession. It is not so much a question of if it will happen within your department but rather when it will happen. Law enforcement line of duty death is also something that we don’t like to think about but if you don’t do some planning in advance, and prepare for, the likelihood you will be caught off guard and the trauma to you agency and it’s people will be even greater.
I recently had a chance to see firsthand the Honor Guard training provided by DFL Honor Guard out of Indiana. Their training is first rate and gives students all the tools needed to prepare themselves and your agency for the sad duty of saying goodbye to one of your own. If it must happen, it should be handled with dignity and honor and that’s what DFL teaches.
In May of 2013 the The Michigan Sheriff’s Association and the Michigan Chiefs of Police, two leading law enforcement organizations, have joined forces to form the Sheriff’s & Municipal Memorial Assistance Response Team (SMMART) and are sponsoring a DFL Honor Guard Training program in Alpena Michigan. I would highly recommend that you send your existing or new honor guard to this training if you can. Here are the details Continue reading
