Q. What are the Federal criteria for the Benefits Program?

A. The Department of Justice provides the Federal criteria through the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program. See information at the Public Safety Officers' Benefits (PSOB) Program web site.


Q. What is the difference between the Washington DC Chapter of C.O.P.S. and the Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial Fund?

A. There are many organizations that have been established to support survivors and memorialize law enforcement officers who are killed in the performance of their duties. At times it may seem overwhelming for survivors to discern between the many organizations. We would like to shed some light on the differences between our organization and the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).

National C.O.P.S. was established in 1984 as a national family support organization to assist immediate family members with the emotional trauma suffered after the death or murder of their police officer loved one within the United States (the D.C. Chapter received its charter in 1998.) C.O.P.S. membership now consists of over 14,000 families and, unfortunately, grows every year. Annual seminars and retreats for spouses, parents, children (and many other family members and co-workers) have assisted with the rebuilding of lives shattered by an untimely death. Almost every state in the Union has a chapter or branch of C.O.P.S., available on short notice to assist with the emotional support of any family or agency that experiences the untimely death of one of our nation’s protectors who wears the badge and blue.

Separately, the NLEOMF was created to generate funding and increased public support for the law enforcement profession. On October 15, 1991 the NLEOMF was able to dedicate the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial located in our nation’s capital. The NLEOMF records and commemorates the service and sacrifice of our nation’s law enforcement officers. The NLEOMF is also responsible for the construction and funding of the anticipated Law Enforcement Memorial Museum expected to open in 2009 near the memorial in D.C. The NLEOMF has collected the information and catalogued the history of more than 16,000 law enforcement deaths in our nation’s history.

Even though there has been confusion in the past, please keep in mind that the D.C. Chapter of C.O.P.S. is not involved with any NLEOMF fund-raising or decision-making activities (such as what names go on the wall). However, we share the goal of never forgetting of our fallen hereos.

Washington, D.C. Chapter, Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc.
P.O. Box 31549
Washington, DC 20030
(202) 332-COPS

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