Concerns of Police Survivors Inc

“A copy of the 990 is submitted to the Board of Directors for review and possible edits. Following Board approval the 990 is filed electronically with Federal regulatory agencies as required by the deadline date.”

“A conflict of interest statement is within the confidentiality and nominee pledge that is signed each year by all Board members and Chapter representatives. Copies of those signed forms are held at the National Office. C.O.P.S. reminds Board members about conflicts of interest at least once per year and will actively investigate any information if such a conflict exists.”

“The process for determining compensation of the organizations Executive Director is done annually through an Evaluation Committee appointed by the National President each year, normally in July. The results of the committee are reported to the National Board at the National Board Meeting in December/January each year. The committee and the Board meet and review the organizations Three-Year Development Plan at various times during the year and also discuss the accomplishments made during the rated period year. Through the findings of comparability data and discussion, a decision on compensation is made and reported to the National Board. As a part of the Boards annual review of compensation for the Executive Director, they enlisted the aid of various resources of non-profit compensation guidelines to research the salary range for this position in other comparable organizations. The results of review of the resources confirmed that the compensation of the C.O.P.S. Exectutive Director was within the average market rate for an organization of our type and size.”

“The process for determining compensation of the organization's Administrative Director is done annually in October by the Executive Director. An Employee Self Assessment Form is completed by the Administrative Director and an Employee Performance Appraisal is completed by the Executive Director. The Executive Director compares the two and discusses accomplishments and performance with the employee and makes a decision directly to the employee.”

“Paper copies upon request”

“Other Fundraising Difference = -$5989”

“PROGRAMS:Grief Seminars are held throughout the year for all law enforcement survivors across the United States. In May of each year during the National Police Survivors' Conference held in Washington, DC, during National Police Week, survivors can attend a number of different seminars on grief issues. Approximately 4,834 police survivors and affected coworkers registered for C.O.P.S. seminars. Debriefings, one-on-one counseling, family counseling and crisis intervention sessions were held for the adult survivors. The children participate in their own peer-support group sessions and work with counselors and trauma specialists to address their individual grief issues. C.O.P.S. provides survivor specific retreats, known as "Hands-On Programs". They are C.O.P.S. Kids Camp, Outward Bound Adventure, Young Adults Camp, Adult Children, Spouses, Spouses for Couples, Parents, Sibling, Co-workers, Co-workers for Couples, Fianc/Significant Other, Extended Family Retreats, Summer Suicide SurvivorsRetreat and Fall Suicide Survivors Retreat. These retreats are held at rural locations around the country. The survivors experience self-help challenge activities as well as meeting and networking with peers who have experienced the same type of loss. All of the retreats have licensed mental health professionals that provide group and individual grief counseling for the survivors. The camps/retreats held during 2024-25 had 1,280 survivors in attendance. Survivors return time and time again to C.O.P.S.' programs for support. The first time they attend, they say it is because the event honors their fallen officer. The second time they attend a C.O.P.S. event, they do it for their own mental well-being. After that, they come to provide support to the more newly-bereaved families. However, survivors have also returned years later when they realize issues with the death have never been emotionally resolved, the perpetrator may be coming up for parole or another life experience has brought the horror of the death back to the forefront of their thoughts.Public Safety Agency Assistance is accomplished in a number of different ways. Each year C.O.P.S. holds a series of training sessions titled The Traumas of Law Enforcement. These trainings educate America's law enforcement agencies on appropriate responses to officer death and appropriate care for law enforcement families affected by line-of-duty death, disability, post-traumatic stress disorder and police suicide. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, these 3-day trainings were held in Pittsburg, PA; Boise, ID; Indianapolis, IN; Des Moines, IA; San Antonio, TX; Savannah, GA; and Rogers, AR. C.O.P.S. contracts with leaders in the field of police trauma to conduct the sessions. The resource manual, PowerPoint presentations and entire training have been highly praised by training participants year after year. In the 29 years that C.O.P.S. has been sponsoring these trainings, 221 sessions have been held.C.O.P.S. held its 10th annual National Conference on Law Enforcement Wellness & Trauma. This Conference had sessions with topics on suicide awareness and prevention, tactical self-care for first responders, creating a peer support program for officers, LAWS-Leadership, Accountability, Wellness, and Service, mental health awareness, navigating family life in law enforcement. This conference on Wellness and Trauma was well received with a total of 845 participants from across the country.C.O.P.S. also produces a monthly Rap Sheet newsletter for law enforcement. This newsletter is emailed to over 40,000 law enforcement officers and agencies across the United States. C.O.P.S. provides printed educational materials to law enforcement agencies and officials to help them develop a policy within their departments on handling a line-of-duty death. Some of the educational materials include topics on support at the hospital, assistance during the wake and funeral and assistance with benefits. C.O.P.S. also continued to distribut”

“PEER SUPPORT & BENEFITS:Peer support and survivor benefits and outreach is provided through the 54 C.O.P.S. Chapters in operation across the country. These Chapters are comprised completely of volunteers who provide an immediate response to survivors when an officer dies in the line-of-duty. Support meetings and events are offered throughout the year.C.O.P.S. also publishes a printed newsletter three times a year that is mailed or emailed to approximately 75,000 survivors and law enforcement personnel each quarter. This newsletter provides important information on upcoming C.O.P.S. events, highlights chapter and survivor accomplishments and shares information important to law enforcement survivors. A monthly email newsletter is also sent from our office covering events, hands-on program registration and scholarship information and deadline, and other information relevant to the lives of law enforcement survivors. Additionally, C.O.P.S. continued to distribute a QuickSeries Pocket Guide that we developed for law enforcement families and co-workers affected by a line of duty death. This guide provides information on understanding grief and trauma, coping strategies and general information on the many benefits available, such as PSOB benefits, and financial, educational, counseling and support programs. These booklets are sent to survivors from the National Office and are made available to all chapters to distribute when they respond to a line of duty death. Financial assistance is provided by Concerns of Police Survivors to survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty who wish to pursue a course of study beyond high school. Surviving children and spouses of law enforcement officers killed in the line-of-duty are eligible for C.O.P.S. scholarships if the survivor is not entitled to a tuition-free education as a state death benefit. In addition to the C.O.P.S. Kids/Teens program during the National Police Survivors' Conference, the C.O.P.S. Kids Camp, Outward Bound and the Young Adults Camp offered each year, C.O.P.S. also offers financial assistance to dependent-aged children who need psychological counseling to help them cope with the trauma inflicted on them through the sudden, often violent, loss of their parent to the law enforcement profession.”

“PUBLIC RELATIONS & OUTREACH:Public education and awareness is accomplished in part each year during National Police Week, when C.O.P.S. promotes blue ribbons to display in prominent places as a reminder to the public that many law enforcement officers have paid the ultimate price and given their lives in the line-of-duty. It is also to honor those officers who serve and protect our communities every day, putting their lives on the line for us. C.O.P.S. also works to educate the public on law enforcement trauma issues through the use of billboards and PSAs during the year. On January 9, 2025, C.O.P.S. and partnering organizations in support of law enforcement officers nationwide promoted the 10th annual National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day L.E.A.D.) Our nations citizens were called to action in support of law enforcement. Those citizens who appreciate law enforcement and were discouraged about the negative attention given to law enforcement were encouraged to take time on January 9th, to show their support in various ways. Events were held across the country, including rallies, card-making by school children, food deliveries to law enforcement and many other ways. C.O.P.S. continues with its effort to educate the general public about the organization, its goals and the issues that C.O.P.S. addresses for survivors. Issues such as cop-killer paroles and the number of officers who die in the line-of-duty are all information that each and every citizen in this country should know. Every Christmas holiday season C.O.P.S. continues to promote the Project Blue Light campaign, asking citizens, law enforcement families and survivors to shine blue lights in their residence windows to salute the officers who work the streets during the holidays and to remember the families whose officers made the supreme sacrifice. In January 2019, C.O.P.S. started promoting an annual National Blood Drive held across the nation during the month of January. C.O.P.S. National Office and chapters from all over the country participated in this annual event.Another form of awareness and outreach is accomplished through C.O.P.S. branded merchandise. By having law enforcement officers and survivors wearing items with the C.O.P.S. brand, we have greater name recognition and law enforcement agencies and survivors are more likely to seek our assistance.”