Never Forgotten: A Remembrance to those Wounded
By Makou Lin
As law
enforcement officers continue to protect the community and Lake Sumter State
College, they risk their lives to ensure a safe environment. But, who protects
the officers when they, themselves, fall, become wounded, or unable to serve?
Created by officers for officers, the Wounded Officers Initiative is a
non-profit public organization who seeks to develop and establish national
programs to “address the long-term needs of wounded law enforcement officers
whose line of duty injuries have prevented them from continuing their law
enforcement careers” (Mission).
Crystal Pierce, a local supporter
of the Wounded Officers Initiative and a LSSC student, knows how dangerous the
law enforcement field is and how important it is to support our officers. With violent
crimes occurring every 25 seconds in the United States (2016 Crime in the
United States), officers must respond and react quickly. However, as experienced by Crystal’s family,
during these dangerous events officers are still human and can become victims.
The Wounded Officers Initiative
realizes the need for assistance towards these wounded and disabled officers in
the line of duty. Often, wounded officers lack in receiving adequate
therapeutic aid and financial aid in trauma relief and income stability; two
main points the organization aims to solve. Because wounded officers cannot
continue their careers, they must survive off their disability pensions. These
disability pensions could be as low as 50% of the officer’s annual income (City
of Sanford Police Officers' Retirement System Summary Plan Description), such
percentages cannot support a family.
The Wounded Officers Initiative
provides various support systems for helping wounded officers, such as their
support lines, legislative proposals, and public assistance. Through the
organization’s five key goal acronym, CAARE; stands for counseling, advocacy,
awareness, recognition, and education, the public can learn more about the
organization’s goals and progress. An essential element of the organization is
providing therapeutic support for the wounded officers. Through their BlueLine
Support™ program, wounded officers are given peer support by trained
officer-based affiliates in a safe and confidential setting. Protected by HIPPA
and supported by trained police-oriented mental health professionals, the
program aims to counsel wounded officers and help them through their times of need.
In raising awareness and
recognition of wounded officers, the Wounded Officers Initiative dedicates
itself to honoring the sacrifice performed by officers. The organization hosts
an array of public events where the community can meet and support their local,
wounded officers and hear their stories. Annual events such as the Wounded
Officers Initiative Annual Gala or the “I CAARE For Law Enforcement™” Ride are perfect
places for the community to learn more and give help to the Wounded Officers
Initiative’s efforts. Follow the Wounded Officers Initiative on social media
and visit the woundedofficersinitiative.org to keep up to date on various
events and programs. Find them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn to
learn more about their available outreach events.
The Wounded Officers Initiative is
an expanding nation-wide organization aimed to aid wounded officers who are
unable to continue their careers, due to injuries from the line of duty. These
officers who sacrifice themselves for the community for which they stand for;
to support them is never to forget them. To further reach out and support the
efforts of the Wounded Officers Initiative, visit their contact and sponsorship
page. They accept donations and funding, with 100% of proceeds used directly
towards achieving the organization’s goals. Know a wounded officer? Submit
them on the Wounded Officers Wounded Heroes page. Support them in their time of
need, “So Their Sacrifice is Never Forgotten” (Motto).
References
2016 Crime in the United States. 2016. Chart. 17 August 2018.
<https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2016/crime-in-the-u.s.-2016/figures/crime-clock>.
City of Sanford Police Officers' Retirement System
Summary Plan Description. City of
Sanford Police Officers'. Sanford: The Board of Trustees of the City of
Sanford Police Officers' Retirement System, 2014. Document. 17 August 2018.
<http://www.sanfordfl.gov/Home/ShowDocument?id=10718>.
Mission.
2018. Web Page. 18 August 2018.
<http://www.woundedofficersinitiative.org/mission---vision.html>.
Motto.
2018. Article. 18 August 2018. <http://www.woundedofficersinitiative.org/mission---vision.html>.