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“RECOGNIZING THE CONCERNS OF POLICE SURVIVORS, INC.” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E864 on May 14, 2004.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING THE CONCERNS OF POLICE SURVIVORS, INC.
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HON. IKE SKELTON
of missouri
in the house of representatives
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to recognize Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. The organization, which provides support and encouragement to families of law enforcement officers who have given their lives, observes its 20th anniversary on May 14. The organization, also known as COPS, has grown into an international non-
profit organization comprised of 13,000 families in the United States, with an affiliate in the United Kingdom.
The genesis of COPS occurred in 1983, when ten survivors of fallen officers gathered to talk about the difficulties they faced when their loved ones were killed. Within a year they decided there was a need for a support organization that could understand the trauma inflicted on surviving families and agencies when an officer was killed in the line of duty.
COPS was officially organized on May 14, 1984, with 110 police survivors attending the first National Police Survivors' Conference in Washington, DC. It organized independently from other police organizations in order to allow members to reach out to any survivor regardless of their loved one's police organization affiliation.
COPS sponsors weekend retreats for surviving spouses, parents, adult children, siblings, and in-laws. The organization also hosts a week-
long summer camp and a weekend wilderness experience in the Colorado Rockies for surviving children. With funding from the Department of Justice, COPS presents training that teaches officers how to help surviving families, affected co-workers, and communities deal with the tragedy of line-of-duty deaths.
Mr. Speaker, COPS is providing an important service to those families and coworkers of officers who have lost their lives. From humble beginnings in a basement office to a brand new facility in Camdenton, Missouri, COPS has brought healing and support to those who have lost a friend or loved one. I know my fellow Members will join with me in thanking members of this organization for their work and dedication.
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