During a recent board meeting for the Colorado Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) the group was discussing how to best assist our survivors that were going to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial ceremony for the first time. The experienced members of the group knew that the event could be overwhelming to a first time survivor or visitor if they didn’t know what to expect. National C.O.P.S. sends survivors an orientation video, but some of our members who had been to National Police Week, which is commemorated every May here in the United States, knew it is an emotional roller coaster for the most experienced participant and it can be absolutely overwhelming to someone who doesn’t know what to expect. The Colorado Chapter of C.O.P.S. always puts together care packages in the form of goodie bag for the family to take that includes things like snacks, water, and umbrella and even a disposable camera, but this year the group decided to draw upon some of the experience we all shared and conduct an interview with some of our board members and put together a tip sheet to help… our new surviving families. This article is the result of that effort.
What you will find here is a PDF document of all the tips and suggestions we could think of to help someone successfully navigate the rigors of National Police Week along with the audio interview so you can hear each persons experiences.
You will hear from surviving spouses, parents and in-laws as well as a serving police detective who has gone representing her FOP Lodge.
You can listen to the whole interview with everyone (duration 1 hour 36 minutes) or you can click the buttons below to listen to each individual interview
If you would like to listen to our whole interview please click the replay button below:
CLICK HERE to download a Tip Sheet prepared by the Colorado Chapter of C.O.P.S. to assist first timers successfully navigate the events and ceremonies of National Police Week.
Kelly is a surviving spouse of an officer who was shot to death. For Kelly’s Interview only CLICK HERE duration 19 minutes
Don is the surviving parent of a State Trooper who was killed in an automobile accident while responding on a call. For Donnie’s Interview only CLICK HERE duration 42 minutes
Shelly is a surviving Mother in Law who’s Son-in-Law was a State Trooper also killed in an auto accident while responding to a call. For Shelly’s Interview only CLICK HERE duration: 23 minutes
Robin is a serving Police Detective who serves as Treasurer for your local FOP Lodge and on those years when there isn’t a National FOP convention the Lodge sends officers to National Police Week. For Robin’s Interview only CLICK HERE duration 12 minutes
Or RIGHT CLICK the CLICK HERE for any of the file links to download a copy of the mp3 file (that’s CONTROL CLICK if you use a Mac then SAVE LINK AS…) .
Here are some other Helpful Links:
National COPS Website:
http://www.nationalcops.org
Colorado COPS Website:
http://www.coloradocops.org/
National Police Week Schedule with lots of other links:
http://www.nleomf.org/programs/policeweek/schedulenational-police-week.html
The National LE Officers Memorial Fund Website “Visiting Washington D.C.” tip page:
http://www.nleomf.org/programs/policeweek/visiting-dc.html
Washington D.C. Metro Subway Map:
http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm
Washington D.C. Metro Website:
http://www.wmata.com
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We do this by Helping Law Enforcement professionals plan for happy, healthy and successful lives on the job and beyond. We think the best strategy is for each officer to create a tactical plan for their own life and career.
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