John Marx was a Police Officer for twenty-three years and served as a Hostage Negotiator for nineteen of those years. He worked as a patrol officer, media liaison officer, crime prevention officer and burglary detective. Also during his career he served as administrator of his city's Community Oriented Governance initiative through the police department's Community Policing project. Today John combines his skills to consult with businesses about improving both their security and their customer service programs. John retired from law enforcement in 2002. When one of his friends, also a former police officer, committed suicide at age 38, John was devastated and began researching the problems that stress creates for police officers. He decided he needed to do something to help change those problems and he wanted to give something back to the profession that gave him so much. He started a project that has evolved into CopsAlive.com. Put simply, the mission of CopsAlive is to save the lives of those who save lives! CopsAlive.com gathers information, strategies and tools to help law enforcement professionals plan for happy, healthy and successful careers, relationships and lives.

What’s it Like to Be Married to a Police Officer?

Yesterday I had a chance to talk with Linda, a police officers wife, and a member of the board of directors of The National Police Wives Association.  Linda and I had an excellent discussion about what it’s like to be married to a cop and what it means to be in a relationship with someone in a law enforcement career.  As a police wife, Linda told me that she has to be part of an entire law enforcement agency’s family and all that comes with it.  She told me about creating an support network with other police wives and how she deals with stress.  We talked about raising kids in a police family and about how cops deal with line of duty deaths.

You can learn more about The National Police Wives Association or contact Linda directly by CLICKING HERE to visit their website at www.NationalPoliceWivesAssociation.org.

If you would like to listen to our interview please click the replay button below or RIGHT CLICK HERE (that’s CONTROL CLICK if you use a Mac) to download (SAVE LINK AS…) a copy of the mp3 file.

Piano Stairs – As Police Officers What do you Do for Fun and Good Health?

Ok, someone sent this to us and we thought it was cool.  What are you doing to plan for fun and maybe improve your overall wellness as a police officer?

Piano Stairs a fun video from Volkswagen and YouTube shows that the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better, is by making it fun to do.

Their point: Fun can obviously change behavior for the better!

To enhance your wellness as a police officer what can you, or your law enforcement agency, do to make good health more fun?

Check out www.TheFunTheory.com

British Police Constable Beaten

British Police Constable Fran Croucher beaten unconscious by 2 people she stopped whilst on patrol.

Get well soon PC Croucher!

CLICK HERE for more information or read about it in Kent Online by CLICKING HERE

Stay Safe and Take Care of Each Other

Land Donated in Memory of Slain State Trooper Daughter

By: Brooke McKay, C.O.P.S. Marketing Coordinator
http://www.nationalcops.org/news.htm

Editors Note: This is such a great story that we couldn’t help but pass it on and ask you to tell everyone you know.

Jessica Jean Cheney was born September 15, 1974, in Pennsylvania. She
moved often as a child due to the fact her father was active military.
The Cheney family finally settled in King William County, Virginia, in
1984. Jessica’s career goals were to become an astronaut until she
learned, at that time, females were not accepted as fighter pilots and
that was the logical route into the space program. In 1991, she decided
to become a Virginia State Trooper… Continue reading

A Christmas Prayer for Peace Officers Around the World

As we approach Christmas here in the United States I’m struck, as always, by the emotions evoked by all the Christmas Carols and Traditional Music.  I know this can be a special, busy, dangerous and wonderful time to be in law enforcement.

Christmas music reminds me of why we are here and how important the role of peace officer is now, and all year long.  The next time you hear a Christmas Carol try listening as a police officer and see… Continue reading

copline

Thinking about making a donation this holiday season?

Here are the law enforcement organizations that CopsAlive recommends that you consider for your donations.

National Police Suicide Foundation
Donate Your Time: CLICK HERE
Donate Your Money: CLICK HERE

The Pain Behind the Badge
Ask how you can donate to the scholarship program

National Police Wives Association

The Badge of Life

Wives Behind the Badge

Spartan Cops
Help them out by buying some gear and then give that as a gift too!

Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)
Donate Money: CLICK HERE
Other Ways to Donate: CLICK HERE

C.O.P.S. Colorado
Please Support My Local Chapter:

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Support the National Law Enforcement Museum as “A Matter of Honor”

CopLine
The first national hotline for law enforcement officers and their families

Get into the Holiday spirit and give back to your profession!

Ten Tips Toward Total Wellness for Police Officers

CopsAlive.com offers law enforcement professionals a list of Ten Tips Toward Total Wellness for Police Officers with supporting information from the Mayo Clinic and other health professionals.

1. Drink Lot’s of Water
2. Get Eight Hours of Sleep
3. Control Your Stress
4. Reduce Your Intake of High Fructose Corn Syrup Continue reading

Take a Virtual Tour of the U.S. National Law Enforcement Museum (opening in 2013)

From the early days of the night watch in the 1600s to the high-tech criminal investigations of the 21st century, discover a history that has largely gone untold — the history of American law enforcement — a profession that serves a vital and valued role in our society.

The National Law Enforcement Museum will be a hands-on, interactive museum providing an opportunity to walk in an officer’s shoes… Continue reading

A Cop with a Plan for Business

I came across E.L. Forestal while posting some CopsAlive information on the social network Twitter (visit us at www.Twitter.com/copsalive) and noticed that he has several internet businesses running and he is a working police officer.  I contacted him and learned that he is an eight year veteran of the Kokomo Police Department in Indiana and because of so many requests from his friends about how to become a police officer he created two training programs about how to pass the police exam and how to succeed in a police oral-board interview.  Also because of his sports background he has created an online fitness  program called “Fit with a Cop”.

I am always looking for officers with a “back-up” plan to provide extra income and insurance against working in patrol until you are 65 years old and Forestal told me that… Continue reading