COPS Walk Southwest 2014

 COPS Walk Southwest 2014

 We spent the last weekend in February in Phoenix at this Concerns of Police Survivors fundraiser.  The 3^rd Annual COPS Walk Southwest was February 22^nd and 23^rd.  Forty+ fantastic participants walked 12.5 miles each day for a total of 25 miles for the weekend.

 National Concerns of Police Survivors and C.O.P.S. Arizona hosted this two-day, 25-mile walk along the SRP Path in Phoenix, uniting families and friends from all over the southwest as they honor fallen officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice while protecting their communities.

Funds raised by participants help the families and affected loved ones of fallen officers attend retreats and other hands-on programs with others who share their unique bond, providing an atmosphere of peer support where they can honor those lost while starting to rebuild their own lives with others who’ve experienced the same unimaginable pain. 

It was my privilege and honor to be there.  I was one of the many volunteers there to support COPS and help the participants.  I was the official photographer and shot over 400 images.  I met a lot of great people and will share a few images from the often-time emotional event. 

Thanks to the participants, volunteers, COPS folks, sponsors, and to those who remember the fallen.  We do not walk alone.  There are those that know how we feel and know how to share, listen, and just be there. 

It is hard to explain to those who have not attended what a special event this is.  I feel fortunate to attend these events and meet all of the great people!  I learn so much about myself, and others, by the time spent there.  Emotions run high for me, and many others, during this event. 

Arizona Concerns of Police Survivors

Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families and affected co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty as determined by Federal criteria. Furthermore, C.O.P.S. provides training to law enforcement agencies on survivor victimization issues and educates the public of the need to support the law enforcement profession and its survivors.

https://copsarizona.org 

Concerns of Police Survivors

Concerns of Police Survivors was organized in 1984 with 110 individual members. Today C.O.P.S. membership is over 32,000 Survivors.  Members include spouses, children, parents, siblings, significant others, and co-workers of officers killed in the line of duty according to Federal government criteria. C.O.P.S. is governed by a National Board of law enforcement survivors.  All programs and services are administered by the National Office in Camdenton, Missouri.  C.O.P.S. has over 55 Chapters nationwide that work with survivors at the grass-roots level.

http://www.nationalcops.org/ 

Preliminary 2014 Law Enforcement Officer Fatalities

February 24, 2014 vs. February 24, 2013

2014   2013   Change

Total Fatalities         18       13       +38%

Firearms-related     5          6          -17%

Traffic-related           8         4         +100%

Other Causes          5          3          +67%

Please note: These numbers reflect total officer fatalities comparing February 24, 2014 to February 24, 2013

2014 Fatalities by State

California      3

Oklahoma     3

Virginia          2

Colorado       1

Florida           1

Louisiana      1

Nebraska      1

Ohio               1

Oregon          1

Tennessee   1

Utah               1

Federal Agencies: 1

U.S. Territories: 1

Tribal:             0

Note: All data are preliminary and are subject to change.

http://www.nleomf.org/facts/officer-fatalities-data/

Officer Down Memorial Page

“Remembering All of Law Enforcement’s Heroes.”

http://www.odmp.org/ 

 “A physical challenge, an emotional high, and the opportunity to help C.O.P.S.  We never walk alone.”

Here are links to some of my other Law Enforcement themed blogs:

http://tcbphoto.blogspot.com/2013/11/cops-and-rodders-2013.html 

 http://tcbphoto.blogspot.com/2013/03/9th-annual-run-to-remember-phoenix-az.html

http://tcbphoto.blogspot.com/2013/02/cops-walk-southwest-2013.html

http://tcbphoto.blogspot.com/2012/12/law-enforcement-dedication-2012.html 

http://tcbphoto.blogspot.com/2012/06/law-enforcement-memorial-2012.html 

http://tcbphoto.blogspot.com/2010/11/cops-and-rodders-2010.html 

Showing off...

http://tcbphoto.blogspot.com/2009/01/law-enforcement-dedication.html 

And the link to all 457 images from the event on Shutterfly:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AcN2rNm5ZNWTCnA 

Winded from crossing the road?  

Helicopter flyover, day one.

Relaxing after day one.

Foot fetish, or he liked to cause pain...

A well deserved lunch break.

He might be running from the Police...

PD Helicopter Flyover...

You really had to be there...

Thanks for looking!