Line-of-duty Deaths on the Rise
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The prompt for this round of the FEDforum is: What is the issue most important to your organization? This week, hear from the Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.). This article was written by Sara Slone, C.O.P.S. Communication Director.
Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) has grown from serving 35,000 survivors to over 55,000 in less than a decade. Statistics have shown an average of 140-160 officers dying in the line of duty each year, which, multiplied by their surviving family members and co-workers, explains why the membership has grown so fast. However, in the past two years, that average is changing, and it’s not in the declining direction, unfortunately.
Statistics show the leading causes of line-of-duty critical incidents and deaths have been in a felonious manner (gunfire, assault, vehicular assault) with accidental incidents following. In 2020, the world was confronted with COVID-19. As the general public was asked to stay home, law enforcement and first responders were amongst those who didn’t have that option. They faced this invisible and unprecedented threat day in and day out.
As a comparison to history, during National Police Week in May 2002, C.O.P.S. and the organizations that plan the events in Washington, D.C., were preparing for the largest group of survivors attending. The deaths of 72 officers from the September 11th attacks were being honored as part of the Roll Call of Names at the Peace Officers’ Memorial Service and the Candlelight Vigil. Fast forward to 2021, and more than 325 officers have died of illness traced back to their rescue efforts at Ground Zero. The C.O.P.S. membership continues to grow as a result of that tragic day 20 years ago. Affected officers continue to get sick each year. As with every line-of-duty death, C.O.P.S. will be there for their survivors.
As the years have passed, C.O.P.S. has adjusted to accommodate the rapidly growing need to support law enforcement surviving families and co-workers. With long-time, dedicated donors and supporters, steps have been taken to continue adjusting through these unprecedented times. Civil unrest heightened through officer-involved shootings, ambushes on officers, and a global pandemic made 2020 one of the worst years in history for line-of-duty deaths in America.
As 2020 came to an end, 232 officers had lost their lives to COVID-19 as a result of contracting it while on duty. Several hundred more deaths are under investigation by the agencies. Another 51 officers have died from COVID-19 so far in 2021, which brings the total line-of-duty deaths to 97 as of April 16th. That’s a number far too high in the first four months, considering the “normal” average of 140-160 for an entire year.
So how does that impact the C.O.P.S. membership? The mission of C.O.P.S. is rebuilding shattered lives of surviving family members and co-workers affected by line-of-duty deaths. The heart of the organization is peer support and providing the events and services to bring survivors together. With an average of 10-12 survivors (sometimes many more) for each officer who dies, those events are growing.
A change in capacity can mean a potential change in contracted venues, an increase in meals provided, and transportation to events. It means scholarship funds for surviving spouses and children will need to be increased to provide for all who qualify. It means we need to add support services personnel and mental health counselors to all events and programs to help accommodate the growing need for grief sessions and one-on-one meetings for survivors to get the support they desperately need.
An increase in membership means we are adjusting to fulfill our mission and ensuring we are here for survivors for as long as they need us. With the difficult realization that critical incidents remain on the rise, C.O.P.S. asks for your support in helping us continue serving survivors at no cost to them. Because the price they have paid is already much too high.
For more information about C.O.P.S., visit concernsofpolicesurvivors.org.
This column from Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) is part of the FEDforum, an initiative to unite voices across the federal community. The FEDforum is a space for federal employee groups to share their organizations’ initiatives and activities with the FEDagent audience.
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