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Children of Fallen Police Officers Remembered on Christmas
(November 28, 2007) | 
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In 1990, National Association of Chiefs of
Police treasurer, Debbi Chitwood, suggested that a program be
put into place where age-appropriate new gifts be selected,
wrapped and sent to survivor children at Christmas time and at
the time of each child's birthday in honor of their mother or
father who was killed in the line of duty.
Volunteering time on her weekends, a special
computer program was devised by the American Police Hall of Fame
archival records director to keep track of the ages and
birthdays of the children.
Within a decade, the program has grown from a
concept to a reality where the kids look forward
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Jim Kouri |
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to their gifts from the American
Police Hall of Fame and write notes of thanks back
which are shared with members, donors and friends. |
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Last year alone 833 survivor children were sent Christmas or
holiday gifts and in recent years NACOP has added the names of
children of disabled and paralyzed officers with the assistance
of the National Association of Chiefs of Police. This is a
program that warms the hearts of the kids, concerned citizens,
and staff alike who have already begun to send out gifts for the
2005 Christmas season.
Sadly, a law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty
on an average of one every three days. The Chiefs of Police
Association, an organization with over 14,000 members, ensures
that families of police officers who pay the ultimate sacrifice
during the 2005 holiday season are also included so that no
child is forgotten. The Association and the American Police Hall
of Fame, based in Titusville, Florida (Orlando area), also send
a special holiday ornament to every family survivor's home.
NACOP depends on local police chiefs, sheriffs or survivors
themselves to keep the database current to ensure that the gifts
are age and sex appropriate. Letters and e-mail are received
from grateful children and parents who say the National
Association of Chiefs of Police and the American Police Hall of
Fame, which is sponsored by NACOP, are the only police
organizations that remember the sons and daughters of fallen or
injured police officers.
The National Association of Chiefs of Police, the American
Federation of Police and the Police Hall of Fame also sponsor a
college scholarship program for these kids who've suffered the
loss of their parent.
For information on how you may participate in this worthy cause,
visit
http://www.aphf.org. |
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By
Jim Kouri
Copyright
2007 About Author:
Jim Kouri, CPP
is currently fifth vice-president of the National
Association of Chiefs of Police. Kouri also serves as political advisor for Emmy and Golden Globe winning actor Michael Moriarty.
He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed “Crack City” by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The
Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer for TheConservativeVoice.Com and PHXnews.com. He's also a columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com. Kouri's own website is located at
http://jimkouri.us.
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