How this nonprofit helps survivors of police officers killed in the line of duty in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) – Following the most recent Death of a Santaquin police officer while he is on duty, Sergeant Billy Dean HooserCommunity and Utah leaders have come together to honor the fallen officer.

Many in Utah did expressed their condolences to the family of Sgt. Hooser and have erected memorials in his honor.

The purpose of an organization is to assist the families, friends and colleagues of officers killed in the line of duty in order to “rebuild their shattered lives.” Concerns of Police Survivors is a national organization with local branches across the country – including a Utah chapter This is done at the local level by Lt. Pat Evans directed Draper Police Department.

“It’s a great organization that most law enforcement really doesn’t know about until we have a tragedy like this weekend,” Evans told ABC4.com.

Evans said Concerns of Police Survivors — abbreviated as COPS — provides “lifelong” resources such as counseling sessions and retreats for survivors of police officers killed in the line of duty. Survivors include not only an officer’s spouse or children, Evans said, but also parents, adult children, siblings and parents.

“We’re just doing everything we can to make sure they can move forward and get the help, support and love they need as they begin their new journey,” Evans said.

When an officer loses his life in the line of duty, Evans said it not only affects the officer’s family, but also the families of his colleagues.

“It’s important that there are support groups like COPS,” Evans said. “They need that support to move forward.”

Evans said tragedies involving police officers generate strong community support and show how much citizens support their officers.

“It comes from the heart,” Evans said. “It’s hard to maintain dry eyes.”

He also said an organization like COPS is important in bringing “organized chaos” under control after a tragedy.

“People come out of necessity,” Evans said. “Everyone wants to support and help, and so you really have to step in and control that.”

The Utah COPS department hosts two major fundraisers each year, Evans said. An event is that Black and blue gala and the other is a 5K race called Memorial run for fallen officers.

Evans said COPS is run by volunteers. Anyone who would like to find out more about what the organization does at the national level can visit Organization website.