Monthly News From
COPS
Concerns of Police
Survivors, Inc.

August 2005

Summer Camp a Huge Success

        “C.O.P.S. Kids” Summer Camp was held at Army Lake Camp, East Troy, WI, August 1-7. Record-high attendance at this year’s Camp included 88 surviving children and 49 parents, three of them surviving dads and one grandfather/guardian. COPS covered all costs associated with the week-long Camp; survivors were only responsible for their travel to Wisconsin.

        Special thanks to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Thanks to the Wisconsin DNR, campers learned fishing, canoeing, archery, and shooting skills with pellet guns and rifles. Thanks also to the several Wisconsin law enforcement agencies who provided assistance at the Milwaukee airport meeting and welcoming survivors, and to Tom Jones of Walworth County Sheriff's Office for helping with arts and crafts.

        This was the 11th year for this program which provides surviving children ages 6-14 and their surviving parent/guardian a safe haven and a fun environment while they learn to grieve together as a family and rebuild their lives.

Surviving Teens Learn Life Skills at Outward Bound®

        Twenty-three teens along with three adult mentors participated in COPS' 8th annual Outward Bound Experience August 1-7. Participants arrived in Grand Junction, Colorado, on July 31 and then spent a week rafting through Cataract Canyon in the Canyonlands National Park in Utah. As with all COPS' hands-on programs, the only expense for participants was their travel to Colorado.

        Special thanks to the Grand Junction Police Department, especially Sgt. Paul Quimby, for meeting and welcoming participants at the airport. Mentors Jill Blackburn, FBI, and surviving adult children Emilio Miyares (FL/88) and Nicole Garrett (CA/81) are thanked for assuming responsibility for 23 teenagers. The Colorado Metroplex FOP Lodge in Denver funded the busing costs for participants from Grand Junction to Cataract Canyon.

Registration Deadline Dates for Upcoming Programs
Survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty are encouraged to attend their specific Retreat:
Siblings Retreat - September 9-12, registration deadline August 9
Spouses Weekend - September 23-26, registration deadline August 23
Parents’ Retreat - Sept. 30-Oct .3, registration deadline August 30
Adult Children’s Retreat - October 14-17, registration deadline September 14
In-Law’s Retreat - October 21-24, registration deadline September 21
Registration forms can be found at www.nationalcops.org/forms.htm <http://www.nationalcops.org/forms.htm>

NOTE: The Fiancees/Significant Others Retreat has been cancelled due to lack of participation. COPS will evaluate the responses and consider it again next year.

COPS Awards $32,848 in Fall Semester Scholarships
        Although the budget is stretched to its limit this year, Concerns of Police Survivors is committed to helping surviving spouses and children achieve their educational goals when tuition-free education is not available as a death benefit for the survivors. For the Fall Semester, 29 survivors in 22 states received awards totaling $32,848. Partial support of the COPS Scholarship Program comes from the Vantagepoint Memorial Scholarship Fund of ICMA Retirement Corporation, the Future Business Leaders Scholarship Fund of the National Pawnbrokers Association, the Aronson Family Foundation, and the Barrett Hill Memorial Scholarship. For a list of recipients, click here <http://www.nationalcops.org/pr05.htm> to read the press release.

COPS' Executive Director Attends UK-COPS Survivors' Weekend
Suzie Sawyer, COPS Executive Director, made COPS’ first “official visit” to be with the UK COPS organization during their third “Survivors’ Weekend”. On average, the United Kingdom loses about 8 officers per year while serving the 60 law enforcement agencies that exist in the country.  Suzie’s trip there was after the terrorist bombings and just after the botched bombings. It made for interesting travel! There were about 140 survivors and Chief Constables from 23 of the 60 agencies.  A tree dedication and memorial service was held in Lichfield, England, on July 30 and 31. In talking with survivors, Suzie found their issues to be the same as in the Untied States:  remarriage penalty clauses, lack of recognition from agencies for the fallen officer and surviving family, and little follow-up from the agency after the death. Our thanks to Dick Coleman and Christine Fulton of UK COPS and all the officers and families for their warm reception to Suzie and her husband Buzz.  

Last Opportunity to Get Your COPS Blue Wristbands

        August 30 is the very last date that orders will be accepted for COPS' blue wristbands. Don't delay! Get your order form here <http://www.nationalcops.org/Wristband OrderForm2up.pdf>.

COPS Walk 2005 - For an Emotional High and a Physical Challenge to Benefit COPS
The US Secret Service Employee Recreation Association is sponsoring COPS Walk 2005 in November. This two-day event, November 12-13, is a 25-mile walk along the Potomac River outside Washington, DC. The Walk is a physical challenge, an emotional high, and an opportunity to help COPS. Participants are expected to raise a minimum of $1,000 in pledges to Concerns of Police Survivors.  One hundred percent of the funds raised will go directly to COPS.   Travel to and from Washington-Dulles Airport is at the participants’ expense.

To register for COPS WALK 2005, or if you have any questions, email Kam Flynn at: npc50@verizon.net <mailto:npc50@verizon.net> or call 703/904-8600.  A registration packet with further details about the event and fundraising information will be sent to registrants.  The deadline for registration is Friday, September 30, 2005.

WANTED - Cheerleaders in Workplace Campaigns
        The fall workplace charitable campaigns will be starting up soon, and Concerns of Police Survivors can use your help. Last year, COPS received $130,000 through payroll deductions. We'd like to see that figure doubled this year!

Combined Federal Campaign and United Way of the National Capital Area contributors will find COPS listed as #1209. Contact the COPS National Office for COPS brochures with this number on them to encourage your co-workers to support COPS.

State and City Employee Campaign contributors, and some Corporate Campaign contributors, will find COPS on the list of approved charities in most states. Look for the Human Care Charities of America Federation, then locate Concerns of Police Survivors in the list of members.

        United Way contributors (other than the National Capital Area and the California Bay area) must specifically request, before the campaign begins, that Concerns of Police Survivors be named to receive payroll deductions, as there is no "centralized" approval for United Way. Each United Way local campaign has its own rules and guidelines. Contact your campaign coordinator NOW, before the campaign begins, and see what is needed for donations to go to COPS. Does your campaign allow Donor's Choice designations? Then contact Terrie Merritt at the COPS National Office with the requirements.

        Remember that COPS has been named a Four-Star Charity by Charity Navigator and has received the Best in America Seal from Independent Charities of America. When you donate to COPS, you know that your money is being utilized in the very best way to assist America's surviving families. Check the Charity Navigator website at <http://www.charitynavigator.org./>

Surviving Siblings Promote COPS and Raise Money
Philadelphia Police Officer Robert Hayes was shot and killed in 1993. This past May, Robert’s brother, Harold, undertook a project to remember his brother’s sacrifice, the sacrifice of all officers killed in the line of duty, and to raise donations for COPS. He found fifteen locations where he could leave blue ribbons in a container. His note on the containers said “The Month of May - Remembering Those Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice. Tie this ribbon on your car antenna to show your support.

Donations will be sent to Concerns of Police Survivors.” The businesses collected the donations, and last week, COPS received $600.50 from citizens in Philadelphia. “Just in my area, I felt great to be driving down the highway and see a few vehicles with the blue ribbon tied to the antenna,” Harold wrote to COPS. “ Such little effort on my part, such a nice return. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to see more blue ribbons during the month of May across the US.” Thanks, Harold! And thanks to the businesses and citizens in Philadelphia!

In 2001, DC Metropolitan Police Officer Marlon Morales was shot by a man who failed to pay the fare to ride the Metro. His brother, Omar, manages a Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant in Washington, DC. Last month the restaurant hosted a tapping party for one of their brews. Prizes were donated and raffles were held throughout the evening. All proceeds from the raffles were donated to COPS. Thanks Gordon Biersch customers and employees for $454!!!!

New FPGEAR Benefits COPS

        FPGEAR (aka Fingerprint Gear) is a unique clothing and novelty line that was created for people that want to stand out in a crowd. No two fingerprints are the same just as no two people are the same, it’s all about individuality. FPGEAR was created by a member of the law enforcement community in hopes of bringing about awareness of an individual’s ability to affect society in a positive way.  A percentage of the proceeds from each sale at FPGEAR.COM <http://www.fpgear.com/> benefits children and families that have lost a mom or dad in the line of duty through Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (COPS) and its “C.O.P.S. Kids/Teens” programs.

Shopping Rebates Benefit COPS
COPS has partnered with two websites so that 10% of every purchase comes back to COPS. Giving Gifts That Give <http://www.givinggiftsthatgive.com/ParticipatingOrganizations.html> offers a variety of items - cookbooks, children’s toys and books, and gift items - at 5% to 50% off suggested retail. At checkout, be sure to list COPS as the organization to receive the rebate. Redbird's Promise <http://www.redbirdspromise.com/> provides inspirational gifts centered around cultural beliefs and tales as they pertain to life’s experiences and the need for enlightenment. At checkout, be sure to put in COPS as the organizational code. Save these sites for future reference. Holiday shopping is not too far away!

 
Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle Safety Competition
The 26th Annual Mid-Atlantic Police Motorcycle Safety Competition will be September 17  at Cameron Run Regional Park in Alexandria, Virginia. Proceeds benefit "C.O.P.S. Kids/Teens". For information, visit <http://www.mapmrc.com/>.