Parent

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 »

2011 C.O.P.S. Parents’ Retreat

by Rachel Garland, P, Sgt. Peter Garland, Klickitat County Sheriff's Office, EOW 07/18/2007

The first time I attended the Parents' Retreat was in 2009. It was a little scary, but I had been prepared by other parents who have attended in the past. Once I arrived, I was greeted by veteran survivors who drew me in and made me feel at home. It was a moving and positive experience. I had planned to go again the next year, but wasn't able to fit it into my schedule. So in October, 2011, I attended Parents' Retreat for the second time. It had been four years since Peter's death and I am healing well. I didn't fly with any other parents from Washington, but I connected with them at the Holiday Inn where we spent Thursday night before being bussed to the retreat center. I was assigned to room with another Washington surviving mother at the retreat. We had already met at the hotel, so we were both relieved, I think, to find that we would room together. We were joined later by another mom from Oregon.

I saw many familiar faces when we all arrived at the retreat center. I was surprised at how many parents apparently make this an annual event. I instinctively knew that since I was not a first-timer now, I would have the role of meeting and encouraging those who were there for the first time. Read more »

2011 National Police Week

by Marge and Todd Herzog, Parents, Deputy Matthew Herzog, Whatcom County SO, EOW 09/13/2001

National Police Week provides an opportunity for families, friends, and co-workers of fallen officers to gather to network and to share their personal stories as well as their grief. It also offers excellent educational sessions on various topics designed to assist attendees in the understanding and methods of dealing with the myriad of issues surrounding their loved-ones’ death.

This is the third Police Week that Marge and I have attended since our son Matthew’s death in 2001. While we each have different memories of our first Police Week, those memories are quite sketchy and clouded by the oppressive grief that we felt even seven months after losing our son. Each time we attend we derive more benefit even though some events still take us back to that raw emotion we have felt since 2001.

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HOP Financial Assistance

Submitted by Troy Meyers on Sun, 08/28/2011 - 02:23

WAStateC.O.P.S. offers financial assistance to survivors attending National Police Week and Hands on Programs (HOP) offered by National C.O.P.S.

For fiscal year 2012, the board voted to assist UP TO $600 per survivor for NPW for travel related expenses.

For fiscal year 2012, the board voted to assist UP TO $400 per survivor per retreat for travel related expenses. National C.O.P.S. covers your room, meal and program expenses.

The only requirement is to complete a statement of Eligibility and Intent confirming that you will or have participated in the programs provided.  Survivors are defined as spouses, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, fiancées, significant others, and co-workers.

Additional assistance may also be available; please CONTACT US for details.

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Lakewood Street Survival Seminar

Judith Secor, Parent, Officer Robert Coulter, California Highway Patrol (CA), EOW 11/02/2003

Gene and I went to Lakewood on July 19th and 20th to represent WAStateC.O.P.S. with an information table at the Street Survival Seminar hosted by the Lakewood PD for law enforcement officers. Lt. Heidi Hoffman was our wonderful host and made us feel very welcome.

David “Buck Savage” Smith from Calibre Press, PoliceOne was the seminar presenter.  He knows Concerns of Police Survivors, Suzie Sawyer, and is a great supporter of C.O.P.S. After a few brief conversations, he invited Gene and me to attend the seminar on the second day – the all-day program was offered twice, once each day. What an honor! This was a class for LEOs, NOT survivors, yet he welcomed us. He allowed me to tell the circumstances of my son’s death since it illustrated a point he was making. It was something else to have these seasoned LEOs nodding their heads in understanding of what I had to say.

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Trustee’s Turn

by Pacific Region Trustee Andy Powell, surviving in-law of Deputy Eric Thach, Riverside County (CA) SO, EOW 10/8/99

I want to first thank the Washington Chapter of C.O.P.S. for the opportunity to be a part of the BEST newsletter web site in our or- ganization. I guess that comes with being the 2010 “CHAPTER OF the YEAR”.

This year at National Police Week, Wash- ington had 30 surviving Family members there to honor their loved ones. Whether you were there as a first time Survivor or a Survivor from the past we were all flooded with emotions. I know it was a difficult week but you also had an opportunity to meet oth- ers from across the nation who have gone the C.O.P.S. seminars because they were of great help to you to understand that you do not have to take this journey alone.

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National Police Week Agenda and Tips

 

 

National Police Week

WAStateC.O.PS. Agenda and Tips

May 12th - 17th

 

National Police Week has much to offer all survivors – especially first-time attendees. Like many things you do in life, you will get out of it what you are willing to put in to it. Our encouragement to you is to participate in all that is available to you.

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2010 C.O.P.S. Parent’s Retreat

Submitted by Judith Secor on Wed, 01/12/2011 - 03:54

Judith Secor, Parent, Officer Robert Coulter, California Highway Patrol (CA), EOW 11/02/2003

What a wonderful four days. Every time I attend Parents’ Retreat, and this was the sixth time, I come away with something new: some new insight or technique for dealing with the loss of my son. Each year it seems I am ready to accept some additional knowledge that I probably was not ready for in the previous years. Read more »

C.O.P.S.' Largest Annual Parents Retreat

Submitted by Brook McKay on Fri, 10/29/2010 - 21:15

Camdenton, Missouri- October 25, 2010- Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) will be hold its last retreat of the year and attendance will break records for that retreat and for the number of participants C.O.P.S. has had at all of its 2010 retreats!  More than 200 will attend the retreat to be held at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, October 29-November 1, 2010, for surviving parents of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Read more »

President's Message

Submitted by ebsecor on Sun, 08/16/2009 - 08:37

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

We haven’t been keeping in contact with each other as much as I would wish.  The past few months have seen some busy and some pretty intense times together and the month of May was a very difficult yet fulfilling time for many of us.  Some of us met each other for the first time on May 8 at the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial.  The biggest event, of course, was National Police Week in Washington, DC, May 12 – 18.  There were 23 family member survivors from our state who attended, 15 for the first time.  Then May 21 many of us gathered in Chelan for their city’s Memorial Day parade.  June 20 several of us gathered at the city park in Manson to see the final stretch of the Saul Gallegos Memorial Run which had over 140 runners of all ages.  Chelan County Sheriff Deputy Dale England was the shining leader for handling that memorial run and setting up of the picnic that was for the runners and for attending family survivors.  Dale is an absolute dynamo when it comes to doing special events that include WAStateC.O.P.S. members.

We now have our annual Angle Lake picnic scheduled for Saturday, August 22.   This is when we really get to pig-out and enjoy the wonderful food that Edwin Barber, surviving cousin (honorary uncle) of Officer Lito Barber, caters for our events.  His talent for treating us with delightful picnics is simply fantastic.  Please plan to attend and also RSVP so the proper amount of food is available.

One of my favorite topics is always the very special Hands On Programs provided to us by National C.O.P.S.  Where in the world could you find a time during the year to simply get away from home, relax, learn, meet wonderful people just like you, and find a new and better way of understanding your officer’s legacy.  It’s a time to be able to share with others your memories as well as the methods that you have found successful for living your life with new-found energy.  The expert help from counselors and specially designed break-out sessions are invaluable.  The peer support is awesome and you will find so many ways to improve your life.

The cost to attend the HOP (retreat) is zero!  Your only expense is getting there.  Our Chapter is providing you with funding that will take care of much of your travel expenses.  There are expenses that include air fare plus getting from home to the airport which can include car parking or shuttle service, and perhaps even having to stay near the airport overnight to make the early morning flight.  Details of WAStateC.O.P.S.’ financial assistance are in the body of this newsletter.

This year there is an additional offer of assistance to help offset your excess travel related expenses.  The Behind the Badge Foundation, a toitally unrelated organization and unaffiliated with C.O.P.S., has allocated funds for surviving family members that is available to you upon request.  Contact gayle@behindthebadgefoundation for information.

Your Board needs input from you as to “what we can do for you”.  We are here solely to serve you;  that is our mission.  To meet your needs more fully, we need your feedback and ideas.

P.S. When you attend any of our WAStateC.O.P.S. functions your NPW or HOP name badge is a good way to identify yourself.

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