Reed Elsevier, publishers ofLaw Officer,recently donated $4,000 to Concerns of Police Survivors scholarship fund, as they have in 2007 and 2008. Reed Elsevier s donations were earmarked for scholarships for surviving children of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Its contributions to C.O.P.S. scholarship fund now total $14,400.
Since 1993, because of the generosity of Reed Elsevier and other funders, C.O.P.S. has given $981,241 in scholarships to 291 survivors of fallen officers who do not receive tuition-free education as a state death benefit. Additionally, C.O.P.S. provides scholarships to survivors who may no longer meet their state s eligibility for assistance.
The Reed Elsevier contribution provided scholarships to three surviving children this year.
Destiny Diaz is a student at Berkeley College, N.Y., where she is working toward a degree in business administration. Destiny is the daughter of Patrolman Jose Diaz, Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Fla.
Karen Menk is a student at Anoka Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids, Minn., where she is working towards a degree in nursing. Karen is the daughter of Dennis Bouchie, Itasca County Sheriff s Office, Minn.
Milizza Sanchez Ayala is a student at the University of Puerto Rico, Carolina, where she is working towards a degree in nursing. Milizza is the daughter of Agent Miquel Sanchez-Febo, San Juan Municipal Police Department, Puerto Rico.
For the spring 2010 semester, C.O.P.S. awarded a total of $46,598 in scholarships to 31 surviving children and three surviving spouses of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. To date, C.O.P.S. has now assisted 291 surviving children and spouses in 26 states and Puerto Rico to further their education.
Applicants seeking financial assist-ance for education purposes are limited to the receipt of not more than $1,500 per semester, and total scholarship awards to one individual shall not exceed $12,000 in their lifetime. C.O.P.S. scholarships are awarded three times annually for the fall, spring and summer semesters. All applicants must be surviving spouses or children of officers who were killed in the line of duty according to Federal criteria. C.O.P.S. Scholarship application forms can be found online atwww.nationalcops.org/serv05.htm.
Taking Care of Our Own
I attended C.O.P.S. Parents Retreat seven months after my son s death, and I found my new family. Sandy Mechels,surviving mother of Sgt. Chad Mechels, Turner County (S.D.) Sheriff s Officer.
Thank you C.O.P.S. for everything. All the camps and retreats and trips to Washington have become precious memories. Of all the doubts and questions that remain about losing my husband, I can honestly tell you that finding C.O.P.S. has helped me make peace with this loss.
Cecelia Stafford,surviving spouse of Charles Stafford, Miami Springs (Fla.) Police Department.
Daddy is a border patrol agent in heaven. Arianna Aguilar,7-year-old surviving child of Sr. Patrol Agent Luis Aguilar, Homeland Security, U.S. Border Patrol.
In 2009, 649 survivors attended C.O.P.S. Hands-On Programs. The average cost was $592 per person. All programs provided to the survivors by C.O.P.S. are free; the price they have already paid is too high. C.O.P.S. needs your support to continue its healing programs for America s law enforcement survivors. To help C.O.P.S. take care of our own, you can make an online donation atwww.nationalcops.org.You can also mail your donation to:
Concerns of Police Survivors
P.O. Box 3199
Camdenton, MO 65020
