We face increasing controversy and animosity between those who wish to support needed racial and social justice changes and those who want to support our police and military. I’ve heard it stated, that if Black Lives don’t matter, no lives matter. This is absolutely true. Notwithstanding, those who protect and serve the citizenry merit our consideration as well. In particular, surviving friends and family of fallen police officers need help.
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. Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) provides resources to help them rebuild their shattered lives.
C.O.P.S. was organized in 1984 with 110 individual members. Today, C.O.P.S. membership numbers over 54,000 survivors. Survivors include spouses, children, parents, siblings, significant others, and co-workers of officers who have died in the line of duty.
C.O.P.S. programs for survivors include the National Police Survivors’ Conference held each May during National Police Week; scholarships; peer-support at the national, state, and local levels; “C.O.P.S. Kids” counseling reimbursement program; the “C.O.P.S. Kids” Summer Camp; “C.O.P.S. Teens” Outward Bound Adventure for young adults; special retreats for spouses, parents, siblings, adult children, extended family, and co-workers; trial and parole support; and other assistance programs.
Charity Navigator, an excellent site that rates non-profit charities, gives C.O.P.S. a four star rating, with a score of 97.17 out of 100.
Give. Pray. Post. 