Mission Statement: Survivors supporting Survivors

Washington has lost more than 290 officers in the line of duty since it became a state.

Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families and affected co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty as determined by Federal criteria. Furthermore, C.O.P.S. provides training to law enforcement agencies on survivor victimization issues and educates the public of the need to support the law enforcement profession and its survivors.

Our chapter of C.O.P.S. is entirely volunteer-driven; we have NO paid staff. As survivors of law enforcement line of duty death, our mission is to assist those who come after us, learn to live, laugh and love again.

Each year, between 140 and 160 officers are killed in the line of duty, and their families and co-workers are left to cope with the tragic loss. 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. National Board 2013-2014

Submitted by Troy Meyers on Thu, 05/16/2013 - 13:16

On the last day of the national conference, election results were announced.

The National Board of C.O.P.S. for 2013-2014 is comprised of:

National President
Madeline Neumann - W/1989

Immediate Past President
will be appointed by President Neumann

Northeast Region
Trustee for the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Happy Snodgrass – Significant Other/2006

Atlantic Region Read more »

Seattle Historical Sign Project

Submitted by Brenda Donner on Tue, 04/23/2013 - 08:12

The goal of the Historical Sign Project is to put a chapter of Seattle history on display where it happened and for all to see. Historical markers will be installed at or near the sites where a Seattle police officer or firefighter has been killed in the line of duty over the last 131 years. This project uses no taxpayer dollars. It will be totally funded with private contributions. Read more »

RIP Chaplain Oas

Submitted by Brenda Donner on Mon, 04/08/2013 - 12:14

We regret to inform you of the death of a friend of all Seattle-area law enforcement personnel, families, and survivors. Chaplain John Oas passed away the morning of 04/08/2013.

The memorial service for Chaplain Oas was held on Saturday, 04/20/2013, at 1:00 p.m. at the Basic Law Enforcement Academy in Burien.

Contact info@wastatecops.org if you would like to send a message of sympathy to Chaplain Oas's widow, Kaye.

RIP.

2012 National C.O.P.S. Parents’ Retreat, by Ernie Barber, Parent, Officer Joselito Barber, Seattle PD, EOW 08/13/2006

Submitted by Guest on Sun, 02/03/2013 - 13:05

It's Thursday, October 25, 2012. After a busy week of work, we are off to Seattle International Airport. Our destination is Little Rock, Arkansas, site of the 2012 Concerns of Police Survivors Parents Retreat. We arrive at the airport allowing plenty of time for the busy security checks that we knew we would find there. Our flight to Little Rock would require us to make a brief stopover in Atlanta, and our C.O.P.S. Blue Ribbons helped us identify others parents that were also waiting to fly out from Atlanta. Read more »

Road Dawgs Motorcycle Ride, by Sid Beech

Submitted by Guest on Fri, 11/30/2012 - 23:23

The Road Dawgs are a group of active and retired Law Enforcement Officers representing several Law Enforcement agencies in the Puget Sound area.

The Fallen Officers Ride came about as a result of an editorial by Gary Gardner in Quick Throttle Magazine. In his article, Mr. Gardner identified the need for a ride to honor our fallen Officers, and to contribute to the families left behind. Our club voted unanimously to take up the challenge of making the ride a reality, not only for this year but for the future as well. Read more »

Geocaching at Steven J. Underwood Park, by Sharron Underwood, mother of Steven J. Underwood, Des Moines (WA) PD, EOW 03/07/2001

Submitted by Guest on Mon, 11/05/2012 - 21:27

If you would like to take in a sunny day in Seattle, think about the Steven J. Underwood Memorial Park (Plaza). The baseball fields are always busy with kids and adults. Kind of an old fashioned outdoor outing for the family. While there, you might like to do some caching - geocaching, that is. Geocaching is a free real-world outdoor treasure hunt. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using a smartphone or GPS, and can then share their experiences on line. Read more »

Jim Caverly Bicycling Across America for C.O.P.S.

Submitted by Troy Meyers on Fri, 07/20/2012 - 19:21

Jim Caverly - Bicycling Across America for C.O.P.S.

Bird Hill, Idaho. Jeanne Caverly writes:

My husband and I have been working at Police Week and at various C.O.P.S. Retreats as grief counselors since 1990. This summer, Jim is Bicycling Across America, 4200 miles coast to coast, to raise awareness and $30,000 for C.O.P.S.!

He left Florence, Oregon on May 25th, 2012. We stayed with Joyce and Denny Kramer near Billings, Montana, and had a wonderful visit with them.

My job is to meet up with Jim with our "Home on Wheels" every night and to get the word out!

Our blog/website is www.BicyclingAcrossAmericaForCOPS.org

Bicycling Across America for C.O.P.S. can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bicycling-Across-America-For-COPS.

The more publicity we get, the better for C.O.P.S.!

When we reach 3,000 people who each donate $10, we reach our goal!

WAStateC.O.P.S. wishes fair weather and safe travels for Jim and Jeanne, as they promote C.O.P.S.!

Read more »

C.O.P.S. National Campaign to Implement the Blue Alert

Submitted by Guest on Mon, 03/05/2012 - 20:26

Governor Gregoire signed the Blue Alert bill, HB1820, into law on 03/15/2012, making Washington the 14th state to implement the Blue Alert.

The Blue Alert will provide the means to speed the apprehension of violent criminals who kill or seriously injure local, state, or federal law enforcement officers in Washington State.

The Blue Alert would be a cooperative effort between the State Department of Public Safety, State Department of Transportation, the Governor's Division of Emergency Management, broadcasters, law enforcement agencies, and the general public. Using media broadcasts and Department of Transportation messaging signs, each Blue Alert would cover the state with information identifying a detailed description of the offender, the offender’s vehicle, and license plate information which will inevitably hinder the violator's ability to flee the state. It would facilitate a speedy capture, helping eliminate the threat the offender would pose on other communities and law enforcement personnel.

Working together, we can show our support for the brave men and women who protect our great nation and ensure that those who do harm to our protectors are quickly captured, fully prosecuted, and appropriately punished.

State Blue Alert Criteria

All four criteria must be met in order for the Washington State Patrol to activate the network:

  • A law enforcement officer must have been killed or seriously injured by an offender.
  • The investigating law enforcement agency must determine that the offender poses a serious risk or threat to the public and other law enforcement personnel.
  • A detailed description of the offender’s vehicle, vehicle tag, or partial tag must be available for broadcast to the public.
  • The investigating law enforcement agency of jurisdiction must recommend activation of the Blue Alert to the State Operations Center (Governor's Divisions of Emergency Management).

Read more »

Depression: Know the Signs

by Ed Anzore, retired SFPD. Originally published 10/01/2011 by the San Francisco Police Officers Association (SFPOA). Reprinted with author’s permission.

My name is Ed Anzore and I am a recently retired sergeant out of Central Station, SFPD.  I retired 5 months ago and am now able to discuss my departure.  Ten years ago, I lost my brother, Charlie, to kidney cancer.  Charlie worked at Richmond Station at the time he was diagnosed with this disease.  To say my brother and I were close is an understatement.  I never knew how much his loss affected me until this year.  I could write a whole article just based on our relationship, but that‘s for another day.

About five years ago, I started to keep people at a distance.  This was everybody - wife, kids, friends, and co workers.  I never wanted to be close to anyone so I would never feel the pain I felt with the loss of my brother.  I was doing this sometimes subconsciously.  It was my defense mechanism which I thought was keeping me safe, but it was not.  In the last two years, I began to feel myself isolating from people and places.  I started losing the desire to go to events.  Irritability started to set in and I did not understand why.  During the last five years, I was involved in two critical incidents, one on duty and one off, where three people lost their lives.  Things started to go downhill and there was inner turmoil including anger in which I could not understand nor let go of.  My mind started to really go sideways.  When my brother passed, at the age of 52, all I could think about was "I hope I make it to 52".  I was also the last male member of my family not to have a form of cancer. Read more »

WAStateC.O.P.S. Elections Held at the General Meeting on March 3, 2012

At our 12/03/2011 meeting, nominations for all positions were accepted from the floor. Elections were held at the 03/03/2012 chapter meeting. 

Per our chapter bylaws:

  • Elections will be held every 2 years.
  • Those who run must be active and involved in chapter activities, and have attended the General meeting prior to elections.
  • National C.O.P.S. rules state that you may not run for office until at least 2 years have passed since your officer‘s death and any trial has concluded.
  • Officers can serve only 2 consecutive terms in the same position. WAStateC.O.P.S. President, Secretary, and Treasurer positions must be vacated at the end of this upcoming term (2012/2013).
  • Nominations may be accepted from the floor. 
Read more »
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