About Us
Concerns of Police Survivors
Each year, between 140 and 160 officers are killed in the line of duty and their families and co-workers are left to cope with the tragic loss. Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) provides resources to help them rebuild their shattered lives. There is no membership fee to join C.O.P.S., for the price paid is already too high.
C.O.P.S. was organized in 1984 with 110 members. Today the organization has grown to over 65,000 survivors. The organization was started to assist family members and co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Currently C.O.P.S. has over 50 chapters nationwide that work with survivors at the grass roots level.
At the onset of a line of duty death, our board members are trained to provide a number of services, none more important than survivor peer support and grief counseling. Additionally, C.O.P.S. offers financial support, scholarships, Annual National Conference, National Police Week Assistance, survivor networks and a variety of survivor program retreats. All of which is free of charge to survivors.
C.O.P.S. is trained to assist with the planning and preparing of a line of duty death funeral, preparing departments with post administrative roles including Public Safety Officer’s Benefits (PSOB) and national and state memorial enrollment.
Northeast Florida Chapter
On July 11, 1998 the National Board of Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (C.O.P.S.) voted to issue a charter to the Northeast Florida area, which covers the following counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval Gilchrist, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Madison, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union and Wakulla. The Chapter received National Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc.’s Inaugural “Chapter of the Year” award during the opening ceremonies of National Police Week Survivors’ Conference in Washington, D.C. on May 14, 2005.
MISSION - Rebuilding shattered lives of survivors and co-workers affected by line of duty deaths.
VISION -Secure in the knowledge that C.O.P.S. provides exceptional services to surviving families, co- workers and the community; in the event a line of duty death occurs, the agency notifies the family and then C.O.P.S. for immediate response and lifelong support.
CORE VALUES – Integrity: We uphold the values of confidentiality, respect and honesty, setting the standard in every aspect of services to C.O.P.S.’ mission. Support: We are dedicated to providing exceptional service, advocacy and continual peer support for surviving families, co-workers and the law enforcement community for as long as they need us. Compassion: We inspire hope through a safe, accepting and caring environment. Fiscal Responsibility: We recognize the faith our partners have placed in us, embracing transparency and responsibility in the management of our financial resources. Diversity: We value and embrace all survivors, recognizing that our different life experiences combined, make us stronger.
Members eligible to use the services of C.O.P.S. are family members (spouse, child {natural, adopted and step}, parent and sibling), significant others, fiancés, other family members and affected co-workers of Law Enforcement Officers who died in the line of duty as determined by the FBI, PSOP, NLEOMF or FOP criteria.
Affiliate membership may be available to Law Enforcement personnel, business leaders and/or citizens who are interested in the work of C.O.P .S. Affiliate members shall not be eligible to vote or hold office.
Several of our Chapter Members have been trained and certified by The U.S. Department Of Justice as Victim Advocates, Public Safety Officer Benefit Coordinators and Critical Incident Stress Management advisors. We offer these services to our survivors, agencies and the entire law enforcement community. Our Chapter holds 11 monthly meetings or events. No meetings are held in the month of May to allow members to attend various local, state and federal Peace Officer Memorial Services.
The Chapter is here to help existing survivors and ready to assist those who will be affected in the future. The Northeast Florida Chapter supports National C.O.P.S. by providing funds to help carry out their programs. C.O.P.S.' programs for survivors include the National Police Survivors' Conference held each May during National Police Week, scholarships, peer-support at the local, state and national levels, "C.O.P.S. Kids" counseling reimbursement programs, the KIDS Summer Camp, Outward Bound, Young Adult Camp, retreats for all family and co-worker survivor groups, trial and parole support as well as other assistance programs