On-line registration for law enforcement survivors planning to attend National Police Week 2010 is available at http://nationalcops.org/PoliceWeekForm.pdf. National C.O.P.S. will not accept registrations from past-year survivors following the March 23 deadline date. There will be no on-site registration for returning survivors on May 13 or May 14 at the Hilton Alexandria Hotel, the host hotel for National Police Week.

The 2009 surviving families' registration deadline is April 3, 2010, but they are encouraged to register as soon as possible.

To help survivors and law enforcement agencies "save the dates" for National Police Week 2010 activities in Washington, DC, here is information on the planned activities.
 
Wednesday, May 12: Early Arrival Day and "The Road to Hope"* arrives in the DC area.
 
Thursday, May 13: Official Arrival Day, National Police Week Check-In, and The Annual Candlelight Vigil at the National Law Enforcement Memorial
 
Friday, May 14: First day of the National Police Survivors' Conference and C.O.P.S. Kids/Teens activities
 
Saturday, May 15: The National Police Officers' Memorial Service on the West Front of the United States Capitol
 
Sunday, May 16: Second day of the National Police Survivors' Conference, C.O.P.S. Kids/Teens activities, and a Hoedown at the Hilton
 
Monday, May 17: Official departure day

 Concerns of Police Survivors plans to host their National Police Week activities under the theme Road to Hope.

 

The theme symbolizes the journey law enforcement survivors must make after the loss of an officer and how C.O.P.S. can help them rebuild their lives. Through the National Police Survivors' Conference held each year during National Police Week and weekend grief retreats, C.O.P.S. provides hope to the surviving families that often experience debilitating grief that accompanies a sudden, often violent death of their law enforcement officer.

Law Enforcement United and PoliceHotels.com will follow the theme of Road to Hope with their joint trek to raise awareness of officers' deaths in 2009 and the healing work provided by C.O.P.S.  Law Enforcement United, a new organization of law enforcement officers who are bicycling enthusiasts, will make a 250-mile journey from Chesapeake, Virginia, to the Capital area.   Representatives of PoliceHotels.com will be making a 5,000-mile drive across the United States in a Hummer displaying the names of every officer killed in the line of duty in 2009. They will be stopping in cities and towns that experienced the loss of an officer in 2009.  The two organizations will end their trek at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on May 12, 2010. The Road to Hope will raise funds for Concerns of Police Survivors and Officer Down Memorial Page.

John Kalaman, Chairman of the Volunteer Committee, is looking for volunteers to work C.O.P.S.' activities during National Police Week 2010.  Whether it is helping with registration or showing new survivors to seminar meeting rooms, there will be hundreds of tasks that need to be done.  There is also a need for Spanish speaking volunteers.  National Police Week check-in will be held on May 13 from 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and several volunteers will be needed on May 14 and May 16 during the National Police Survivors' Conference.  Contact John at 937-293-3373 (home) or 937-287-1641 (cell) or email him at glcops33@sbcglobal.net.

The FBI Agents Association's 4th Annual National Police Week 5K to benefit C.O.P.S. will be held on May 8, 2010 starting at 9 a.m. For more information and registration, please visit www.nationalpoliceweek5k.com. 

The 11th Annual NATIONAL POLICE CHALLENGE 50-KILOMETER RELAY RACE will be held on May 14, 2010 at the U.S. Secret Service Training Center in Laurel, Maryland. All law enforcement personnel are invited to participate. Online registration available at http://www.secretservice.gov/npc50/registration.shtml.  

The U.S. Secret Service Employee Recreation Association coordinates the race on behalf of Concerns of Police Survivors and H.E.R.O.E.S.

There are sponsorship opportunities for events presented by Concerns of Police Survivors. To learn more please visit, www.nationalcops.org/NPWsponsors or contact Carolyn Davinroy at 573-346-4911 or carolyn_davinroy@nationalcops.org. 

March 15-17, 2010 St. Peters (St. Louis), MO
Registration Deadline: Extended to March 10, 2010
 
March 29-31, 2010 Oregon City (Portland), OR
Registration Deadline: Extended to March 22, 2010
 
Use http://www.nationalcops.org/serv08.htm to register for trainings online.  

For the past several years, Concerns of Police Survivors has been encouraging citizens to fly blue ribbons from their car antennas during National Police Week.  This year from May 9 through May 15, seeing thousands of blue ribbons flying from cars would be a tremendous show of support for our fallen officers and those still working the streets. The ribbons should be tied to personal cars and/or police cruisers to show support for law enforcement.  C.O.P.S. will send blue ribbons only to those that request them. For blue ribbons fill out the online form at http://nationalcops.org/serv10.htm or FAX your request into C.O.P.S. at 573-346-1414 with your mailing address and the number of blue ribbons you would like to request.

For the past several months, Concerns of Police Survivors has written letters to the governors, attorneys general, and lieutenant governors nationwide to raise awareness and ask for their support of the Blue Alert. The Blue Alert would work in the same manner as the Amber and Silver Alert already in place in many states. The Blue Alert will provide the means to speed the apprehension of violent criminals who kill or seriously wound local, state, or federal law enforcement officers.

 

We have heard from 16 states that are either considering legislation or have initiated bills to implement the Blue Alert: Alabama, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Washington, DC.

 

Kristina Benoit, a law enforcement surviving sibling from Massachusetts, saw C.O.P.S. article in the last newsletter on the Blue Alert and went to work. Now there is a bill for the Blue Alert in Massachusetts waiting to be voted on. Good job Kristina!

 

If your state isn't listed, please contact Brooke McKay at the C.O.P.S. national office (573) 346-4911 and see how you can help! Let's show our support for law enforcement and get the Blue Alert implemented nationwide!

"Today is the 6th anniversary of my brother's death, and if it wasn't for the C.O.P.S. organization, I would not be where I am today. I look forward to every C.O.P.S. function there is and can't wait to attend each one. You all understand what our families go through and never say why aren't you over it yet! So from my family and me-Thank you!"

 

Andrea Lomas

Sister of Trooper Bertram T. Zimmerman III

End of Watch 2/5/04

Visit COPSstore for merchandise. Merchandise is now available through the C.O.P.S. National Office as well as the COPSstore. Roll Call items are available in several colors of short sleeve t-shirts, long sleeve t-shirts and crew neck and hooded sweatshirts.  All C.O.P.S. and National Police Week merchandise can be found at http://www.COPSstore.com. COPSstore has been your official source for C.O.P.S. merchandise since 1992.

Concerns of Police Survivors has been awarded the "Best in America" seal of approval from Independent Charities of America.