Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (C.O.P.S.) was
organized in response to a need expressed by ten
surviving wives who gathered informally after the
National Police Officers’ Memorial Service in 1983
to share their grief and support each other.
Officially organized May 14, 1984, C.O.P.S. has
grown from and initial membership of 110 to an
organization of over 15,000 survivors of law
enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
Membership is
composed of family members and co-workers of
officers designated as killed in the line of duty
according to criteria established by the Department
of Justice. In 2007, C.O.P.S. had 48 Chapters in 37
States.
Using the slogan
“Healing, Love, and Life Renewed, “C.O.P.S. offers a
number of activities to help survivors in their
healing process. Each summer four-day retreats are
offered for surviving Spouses, Parents, Adult
Children, Siblings, In-Laws, and Fiancé/Significant
Others. A one-week C.O.P.S. Kids’ Camp is offered to
surviving children, while teens may enjoy a
week-long C.O.P.S. Teen Outward Bound experience.
The only expense to the survivor is the cost of
transportation to the place where the events are
held. During National Police Week, C.O.P.S. offers a
Survivors’ Conference consisting of two days of
seminars dealing with grief issues, conducted by
some of the country’s most outstanding grief
therapists. One-on-one sessions with these
counselors are also available.
C.O.P.S. also
offers college scholarships and financial assistance
with counseling for surviving children. National
C.O.P.S. also has trained survivors in most States
who are available to assist departments and
surviving family members with applying for various
benefits. In addition, each year C.O.P.S. hosts five
regional training sessions on “The Trauma of Law
Enforcement Death” for law enforcement officers.
These are held at different cities in the United
States each year.
