JANUARY 2024 ISSUE

• National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.) // January 9, 2024
• C.O.P.S. Surviving to Thriving Conference // January 18-21, 2024 Grapevine, TX

For more information on any of these events, contact the National Office at 573-346-4911 or go to www.concernsofpolicesurvivors.org/

January 9, 2024 is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (L.E.A.D.), an opportunity for citizens to show their appreciation to law enforcement in their communities. Some of the activities we've seen in the past include taking gift baskets, donuts, or other food items to departments for the officers to share, and having elementary school students make appreciation cards for officers. Spread the word, not only in your Chapter, but in your community as well. You may discover businesses or individuals who would be willing to donate in support of this initiative to show their appreciation for law enforcement.

Some Chapters have blood drives scheduled in conjunction with L.E.A.D., on or around January 9th. Please remember to report your number of units collected after your drive is complete to stephani_anderson@nationalcops.org.

We would also love for you to share pictures from your L.E.A.D. activities and blood drives. Even if you were unable to schedule a blood drive in January, please consider holding one sometime later in the new year. Units collected at drives held by June 30, 2024 will count towards our National goal with ARC. There continues to be a critical need for blood nationwide, so use this link to find a drive in your area and schedule a donation through American Red Cross: https://rcblood.org/3h1HloZ . ARC is expanding their service area, but there are still areas where they do not offer mobile blood drive options. If you cannot find an ARC drive in your area, please contact another blood collection agency in your community. When it comes to saving lives, every unit counts.

Below is a story that was shared by a supporter whose law enforcement son was saved by blood donors and skilled medical staff:

"Colin Ledbetter is a St Louis Metropolitan Police Department Officer (now in the process of medical retirement). On January 26th, 2022 he and another officer were in a car chase and foot pursuit of homicide and armed robbery suspects. Colin's partner, Officer Nathan Spiess, was shot by the suspect he was chasing and his femur was shattered. Nathan went to the ground. 

Colin heard the shots and broke off from chasing his suspect to return and help Nathan. When he did, he and the shooter became engaged in a fight/shooting. Colin was shot in the lower abdomen and the bullet went down and severed his femoral artery. He went back to cover and was trying to put a tourniquet on when officers arriving from a neighboring jurisdiction found him. He bled out in just a few minutes, lost consciousness, and went into cardiac arrest. 

According to EMTs and the Barnes Jewish Hospital trauma surgeon, he was without a pulse for 13 minutes or more. They cut his chest and abdomen open and clamped his aorta to stop blood to his lower body. While doing that, they massaged and stimulated his heart to get it started again several times. They repaired the femoral artery and got his heart going again. 

Dr Schuerer, the lead trauma surgeon working on Colin, said they used 39 units of blood, and several more for his partner. Blood donation is very important to our family." 

The fact that Colin's life was saved is truly a miracle, and so many blood donors were part of that miracle. Thank you for giving, and remember - there is always a need!

REMEMBERING OFFICERS' CHILDREN

Shannon and Andrea Parson are a loving couple who support law enforcement any way they can. One of the most special ways is through the incredible talent of woodworking. Specifically, wooden rocking horses for the surviving children of officers who have died in the line of duty.

"Andrea and I both have such enormous love and respect for our nation's law enforcement officers. Our LEO Horses are our way of giving back for them sacrificing everything. Beginning in 2018, we began building a horse for each child, 3 years or younger, of any fallen officer in the Southeast. We built and delivered 12 horses that year. In 2019, we obtained our 501c3 status as a nonprofit. That year, we expanded to include all 50 states and any LODD in which that officer has a child 3 years or younger," says Shannon.

It is the Parson's hope that each horse gets to hear a lifetime of laughter and help take the family away on adverntures in the midst of such tragedy, even if only for a few minutes at a time.

If your Chapter knows of a surviving child that would qualify for this incredible gift at no cost to the family, please click the link below to email Shannon.

shannon@rememberingofficerschildren.org

CHAPTER SUPPORT

ZOOM SESSIONS

Many thanks to those who participated in the Chapter Support Zoom sessions in October, and a special thank you to Jina Diagle, one of our C.O.P.S. counselors, who moderated the sessions. These are a great opportunity to share challenges your Chapter may be facing, gain new perspectives and ideas on how others have handled difficult issues, and to share your Chapter's triumphs and accomplishments. We are planning the next sessions for January, for the following dates and times:

Thursday January 11, 2024, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Central time

To register for this session, click:

Saturday January 13, 2024, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Central time

To register for this session, click:

Sunday January 14, 2024, 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Central time

To register for this session, click:

At the request of the moderators, each session will be limited to eight attendees on a first come/first served basis. If you attempt to register and find that the session is full, please contact: stephani_anderson@nationalcops.org to be placed on a waiting list, and we will attempt to schedule additional sessions. We want to provide the opportunity to participate to as many as we can.

ANNUAL MEETINGS & ELECTIONS

EXCITING NEWS! The National Board has voted to waive the current bylaw requirement for in-person annual meeting/voting, and will allow C.O.P.S. Chapters to hold their 2024 March Annual Meeting virtually, hybrid, or in person and to conduct their elections utilizing electronic voting if the chapter chooses. You will not be required to obtain permission from the NCL to do this. The Bylaws/SOP Committee is reviewing the bylaws with respect to this process and will make a recommendation, but the National Board is granting this waiver for the upcoming March 2024 elections.

Proper precautions need to be taken to ensure that only eligible members cast votes. Please refer to Article III of your Chapter Bylaws, which defines membership, and SOP 3.13, which provides additional information.

Chapter Bylaws, Article III, Membership

National SOP 3.13

If you need a report of eligible voting members for your Chapter, please request from the NCL at least 45 days prior to your voting meeting to allow time to generate the report. Contact stephani_anderson@nationalcops.org

NOTE: With the exception of Chapters whose terms are two-year standard terms whose last election took place in 2023 and whose terms are until 2025, all other Chapters are required to hold their Annual Meeting/Elections in March 2024. If your Chapter has two-year staggered terms, you still need to have an election for those positions whose terms end in even-numbered years. If your Chapter is transitioning from two-year standard to two-year staggered terms, please contact the National Chapter Liaison for specific instructions on how the transition should be handled - you will still need to have an election in 2024.

TERM LIMITS: Any elected officer's position has a strict term limit maximum of four consecutive years. Terms should coincide with C.O.P.S. fiscal year, April 1 through March 31.

IMPORTANT: Article V, Section 3 of the Chapter Bylaws states:

No more than one family member can serve as a voting member of the Board.

The health and welfare of a Chapter is important. Compliance with the bylaws and SOP 3.0 is vital to ensuring a thriving Chapter. Click:

More on compliance

We are mindful of the fact that serving on a Chapter Board is a volunteer position, and takes time, dedication, and commitment. We have the utmost respect and gratitude for those who devote the time and energy to this organization with the intention of helping rebuild shattered lives and honoring our fallen heroes. You truly are the "boots on the ground" working our C.O.P.S. mission every day!

WHO SHOULD I CONTACT AT NATIONAL?

To help you sort out where different information is handled here at National and to whom you may want to direct an email or ask a question:

Contact Shanna Rizer if you have questions related to National Police Week or a line-of-duty death: shanna_rizer@nationalcops.org

Contact Stephani Anderson for Chapter-related questions (i.e. bylaws, elections, resignations, etc.) and send Chapter paperwork (i.e. minutes, financials, post-election paperwork and annual paperwork) to Stephani and/or Nikki Sparrow: stephani_anderson@nationalcops.org nikki_sparrow@nationalcops.org

Contact Alyssa Starnes for questions about benefits (i.e. PSOB, state-specific benefits), scholarships, or kids counseling reimbursement program: alyssa_starnes@nationalcops.org

Contact Emily Debert to provide Survivor Contact forms, Co-Worker contact forms, or any additional contact information regarding survivors: emily_debert@nationalcops.org

Contact Sara Slone for questions about C.O.P.S. HOPE Magazine, annual calendar, Facebook page, or media-related inquiries: sara_slone@nationalcops.org

Contact Kwabena Asante if you have questions related to Traumas of Law Enforcement Trainings, National Conference on Law Enforcement Wellness and Trauma, or other training-related issues: kwabena_asante@nationalcops.org

Contact Blair Sien for information on Hands-On Programs (retreats):

blair_sien@nationalcops.org 

Contact the Development Team for questions about donations, COPS Walks, C.O.P.S. National golf tournaments, fundraisers, annual Christmas ornament orders: cops_development@nationalcops.org

Of course, any of our helpful staff will be happy to assist in connecting you to the right person to address your questions. Reach out to National C.O.P.S. at 573-346-4911. If you need to mail something to the office, our mailing address is P.O. Box 3199, Camdenton, MO 65020.

Click below to visit our staff web page, where a short summary of each National staff member's area of focus is provide:  

National Staff