This information is provided to help families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty. It is also provided to inform all spouses about the extended police family that is out there, existing to help us in the case of tragedy.

If you are the survivor of a law enforcement officer, my deepest sympathies go out to you. I cannot even begin to imagine your pain, heartache, and despair. All I can do is provide you with resources to help you in this time of need. The links below lead to organizations that have the sole purpose of helping YOU, the surviving spouse. The links on the left point to grief counseling resources. If you have a need to talk with other spouses about your loss, please visit the Handcuffed Hearts forum. You are not alone.

Some of the following organizations also have state and/or department websites in addition to the national websites listed. For individual state links, please refer to the Directory of Resources by State.

Concerns of Police Survivors
Fraternal Order of Police
100 Club
Public Safety Officers' Benifits Program
National Association of Slain Officers

Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) - a nationwide non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty as determined by Federal government criteria. Here is a list of benefits listed by state on their website.

In 2001, a law enforcement officer was killed in the line of duty every 39 hours. Every 39 hours, on average, another family joined the COPS organization. There is no membership fee to join COPS, for the price paid is already too high.

COPS was organized in 1984 with 110 members. Today COPS' membership is over 11,000 families. Members include spouses, children, parents, siblings, significant others, and affected co-workers of officers killed in the line of duty according to Federal government criteria.

COPS is governed by a National Board of law enforcement survivors. All programs and services are administered by the National Office in Camdenton, Missouri. Chapters function in several states at the grass-roots level.

COPS' programs for survivors include the National Police Survivors' Seminars held each May during National Police Week, scholarships, peer-support at the national, state, and local levels, "C.O.P.S. Kids" counseling program, the "C.O.P.S. Kids" Summer Camp, COPS' Outward Bound experience for young adults, Siblings Retreat, Spouses Getaway Weekend, Parents' Retreats, trial and parole support, and other assistance programs.

COPS knows that a survivor's level of distress is directly affected by the agency's response to the tragedy. COPS, therefore, offers training and assistance to law enforcement agencies nationwide on how to respond to the tragic loss of a member of the law enforcement profession. (For UK COPS, click here.)

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Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) - The Voice of Law Enforcement Professionals

(From their website:)The Fraternal Order of Police is the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers, with more than 2,100 lodges and nearly 300,000 members. We are the voice of those who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities. We are committed to improving the working conditions of law enforcement officers and the safety of those we serve through education, legislation, information, community involvement, and employee representation. No one knows the dangers and the difficulties faced by today's police officers better than another officer, and no one knows police officers better than the FOP.

Founded in 1915, we are still "Building on a Proud Tradition."

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100 Club - a 501 (c) (3), non-profit organization formed in Phoenix in 1965, funded through more than 950 individual and corporate memberships as well as private donations.

Since the organization was formed 33 years ago, immediate cash benefits have been provided to deserving families of more than one hundred police officers, corrections officers and firefighters who gave their lives for their community. In the past two years, the 100 Club has paid death benefits to 10 families and supported a total of 40 families with $138,000.

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Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program - The Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program provides a one-time financial benefit to the eligible survivors of federal, state, and local police, fire, and emergency public safety officers killed in the line of duty and to officers who are permanently and totally disabled as the result of traumatic injuries sustained in the line of duty. Currently, the total benefit payment is $259,038.

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National Associaton of Slain Officers (NASO) - The National Association of Slain Officers is a nationwide non-profit 501(c)(3), Tax ID#: 93-1243349 organization whose mission is to provide: Charitable Assistance to the immediate family Members of a sworn State, County, City, or federal Law Enforcement Officer who is killed in the line of duty.

The Goal of N.A.S.O is to assist the spouse and children, of a slain officer, during the first critical year after their loss. This assistance may include financial as well as other support services such as arranging counseling, trust fund, or other needs as they may be brought to N.A.S.O.'s attention.

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