THE STORY OF CAROLINA C.O.P.S.

 Carolina Concerns of Police Survivors, or Carolina C.O.P.S., was chartered as a South Carolina corporation on October 1, 1990, with Paula Radford as its first President.  Paula is the surviving wife of Trooper George Radford, EOW 10-29-1988.  Since its organization, Carolina C.O.P.S. has had four presidents:  Paula Radford; Audrey Way, surviving wife of North Charleston Officer Robert A. Way, EOW 2-18-1985;  Sally Guerry, surviving wife of Georgetown Asst. Police Chief Spencer Guerry, EOW 3-9-1994 and Shelia Myers, surviving wife of Edgefield Deputy Allen "Pete" Myers, EOW 9-19-2000..

 Carolina COPS is a tax-exempt 501 (c)(3) organization and operates as an affiliate of the national organization, Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc., which is headquartered in Camdenton, Missouri.  At year end 2006, COPS had 47 chapters in 36 states and the District of Columbia. 

 The membership of Concerns of Police Survivor is composed of family members and co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.  The idea of having a national organization of survivors grew out of a meeting of ten surviving spouses who met in Washington while attending National Police Week in 1989.  They received so much support from each other that they decided an organization to offer this same support to all survivors was needed.  At year end 2006, COPS had 47 chapters in 36 states and the District of Columbia.  A sister chapter has also been organized in Great Britain.

 Carolina C.O.P.S. works hard to help rebuild the shattered lives of law enforcement families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty.  Carolina C.O.P.S. begins its ministry immediately following the loss of an officer by having a representative(s) attend the visitation and/or the funeral if at all possible.  Follow-up phone calls and/or cards are made to the family, especially during the first year of the family’s loss.

 Carolina C.O.P.S. officers are also available to assist the department in filling out paper work and providing information about benefits available to the family.  If there is a trial, Carolina C.O.P.S. is available to provide information about trial procedures to the family and tries to have representative(s) attend at least part of the trial.  A basket containing snacks for the family’s use during court breaks is also provided. 

Carolina C.O.P.S. notifies both the families and departments of fallen officers about the State and National Police Memorial Services which take place each year.  Carolina C.O.P.S. continues its ministry by offering Line of Duty Death Seminars for departments and police chaplains from time to time.

 Carolina C.O.P.S. works hard providing support and information to police survivors and their agencies.  Survivors never “get over” their loved one’s death, but in time learn to put the love in a special place and move forward.

 The road of grief can be very difficult and lonely.  Carolina C.O.P.S. seeks to lessen the confusion and pain that a survivor will encounter, and its officers are available 24/7 to provide whatever support they can to South Carolina surviving families.