A Message from GLOCK Founder Gaston Glock

For Lucia Canales and her family, jumping into C.O.P.S. and feeling the love and support the organization brings didn’t take long following the death of her brother, Houston (TX) Police Officer Henry Canales, EOW 6/23/2009. "Our department is amazing. Directly after the death of my brother, they took and provided a bunch of our information to C.O.P.S. We attended events and saw the support that the organization gives to survivors," Lucia said. "I knew immediately that I wanted to find out more about the organization, and I wanted to get involved." Getting involved is exactly what Lucia has done since 2010. From holding positions within her Chapter Board, to attending/assisting with chapter events, she also makes sure to attend Siblings Retreat as often as she possibly can. Support is what this organization is built on, and it is something that Lucia's family have experienced firsthand and want to relay to other survivors. “I jumped in directly after figuring out what C.O.P.S. was all about," Lucia said. "It all went so quickly that I even got voted into the Chapter’s vacant Secretary position after speaking with the Chapter President while attending my first Siblings Retreat.” As Lucia continues to provide outreach and support, she is also looking into ways that she can get younger survivors involved. “I want younger survivors to be involved with our chapter," Lucia said. "As we progress, they are going to be the future of facilitating our chapter and the support we provide our survivors.” As far as what the future holds for Lucia, she wants to continue to be involved both locally through her chapter and nationally by attending events and providing peer support. She recognizes that her healing process has developed into assisting others. She sees that survivors are in similar shoes that she wore 5 – 8 – 10 years ago, and helping them progress along their journey with grief allows her to do the same on her path. “I am coming up on 15 years," Lucia said. "I recognize that I get a lot of satisfaction from helping people. It has become my calling.” Lucia Canales Surviving Sibling of Officer Henry Canales Houston (TX) Police Department EOW 08/01/2011 #SURVIVORSTORIES

When my brother, Rich, was violently murdered in the line of duty, my entire life came to a standstill. At the time, my mom had just been declared cancer-free after a fight with breast cancer that both Rich and I helped her through. This is a story of how sewing and a group of people helped me move through grief and find a level of calmness that has sustained to this day. I took a leave of absence from my job as a high school vice principal, which ultimately turned into early retirement. My days consisted of dragging myself out of bed to get the kids to school, and then spending all day in bed until they came home. I wore only pajamas. I started to volunteer for my local C.O.P.S. chapter. That educator/nurturer piece of me started to surface again. Over the next few years, I started sewing during the day while the kids were at school after my mom suggested I do something creative with my time and use the sewing machine she gave me. Pajamas are easy to make and I started giving them out to friends. As an added bonus, they were a cheap way to stay dressed as I slowly gained what I like to call “Grief Weight.” I just smiled and nodded as people started to equate pajama pants with me. Little did they know that not only could I not bring myself to buy larger clothes, I could not afford them and pajamas are comfortable. My emotional trauma was shocked again when my mom died unexpectedly. Six months after her death I was making pajama pants every day just to always feel her with me. I came up with the name “Tami’s Jammies” and it just felt right. For National Police Week 2018, a good friend made blue line sling backpacks with Rich’s badge number, 33, on them. We got tons of comments and inquiries as to where to get them. The Blue Line Bag business began. Here I am today spending four to five hours a day sewing, enjoying the peace of it. When I get a Blue Line Bag order, I take the time to look up the officer and think about the family. I feel a great sense of pride when I send a finished bag off to a survivor. My emotional well-being is recharged each year at the Siblings Retreat. There is something so valuable about spending time with people who know exactly what I am going through. I saw my mom start to smile again after she attended the Parent’s Retreat. There is a group of moms that truly helped her move forward in a positive direction. I can never thank the C.O.P.S. organization enough for what it has done for me and my family. I am donating $5 for every bag sold to C.O.P.S. to help them further their mission of Rebuilding Shattered Lives. In my own small way, maybe I can help pay for other families to have the same support I have had. To check out Tami’s Jammies, visit www.tamisjammies.com Tami McMillan Surviving Sibling of Officer Rich May EOW 1/7/2006 #SurvivorStories

On July 21, 2009, Jersey City (NJ) Police Detective Marc Anthony DiNardo was shot while pursuing two murder suspects. After transport to a nearby hospital, Detective DiNardo succumbed to his wounds. He left behind his wife, Mary, and three children; Gwendolyn, Marc Anthony II, and Ella, all of whom were under the age of five. “In the early days, I just wanted to make sure my kids were okay,” Mary said. “We connected with the Garden State C.O.P.S. Chapter to be taken to the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Wall in April so we could see Marc’s name engraved.” It was during this trip that Mary found that everyone on that bus understood what her family was feeling. Mary added, “We needed C.O.P.S. because they get it.” A month later, the DiNardo family attended National Police Week with the Garden State C.O.P.S. Chapter assisting them every step of the way. “I remember going into orientation and having a mother grab me and hug me, because she knew it was exactly what I needed,” Mary said. In the years that have followed, the DiNardo family have attended Spouses Retreat, Kids Camp, and Young Adults Camp. Now 14 years later, they have made friendships that will last a lifetime. “I still have days where it hits me that my dad isn’t going to be there for important things,” Gwendolyn said, “I get through these feelings by knowing that I am not alone and that I can always reach out to my friends I have met through C.O.P.S. that will support me.” Having grown up with C.O.P.S., the DiNardo children discussed the possibility of going back to Kids Camp as mentors. For Mary, the idea of running for a position on the National Board is not out of the question, now that her children are older and she can give more of her time. The reason is simple and Mary said it best, “C.O.P.S. is life-changing.” Mary, Gwendolyn, Marc Anthon II and Ella DiNardo Surviving Family Members of Detective Marc Anthony DiNardo Jersey City (NJ) Police Department EOW 7/21/2009 #SurvivorStories

Matt Bloesch was a typical 13-year-old trying to find his place in the world. His dad was his best friend who he respected and looked to for guidance. Matt’s world was completely shattered on August 2, 1988, when his dad, San Francisco (CA) Police Officer James Bloesch, was accidentally shot and killed while on duty. Through the rest of his teen years and into adulthood, Matt became fiercely independent and distracted himself with sports, partying, and eventually his career. “I was good at things like work because there was an instruction manual. But I never learned how to be a good dad, husband, or friend because I never learned how to deal with my emotions,” said Matt. Matt’s world started to collapse around him and he knew he needed help. Matt said, “I was trapped for a long time because I thought I was the only one suffering and feeling the way I felt. When other people opened up to me about what they were going through, I no longer felt alone, and I felt safe talking about all of the dark....

Following the death of her brother, Iowa State Trooper Mark Toney, EOW 9/20/2011, Debbie Wiseman was looking for someone to understand what she was going through. It didn’t take long before she was put in contact with the Illinois C.O.P.S. Chapter and other surviving siblings who had walked in her shoes. “They convinced me to attend my first “Sibs” Retreat in 2012,” Debbie said. “I made sure to drive myself, in case it was just crying for three straight days. I was done with the crying and hoping to be away from it. I came in and met some truly amazing people, and I have been back about every year since.” Since attending that first Siblings Retreat, Debbie has devoted herself to not just taking care of her own grief needs, but to assisting other survivors with theirs. She recognizes that everybody needs a listening ear of someone who has lived through the experience and can truly relate. “I had people there for me who understood,” Debbie said. “I want to make sure that I am there for others and their families, to make sure they have someone helping them like we did.” The Illinois C.O.P.S. Chapter won the Chapter of the Year Award during National Police Week 2022. Their service to Illinois survivors is incredible, and Debbie is a big part of that. She currently serves as Vice President of the Chapter Board, as well as the Family Liaison where she is one of the first to connect with surviving families after a line-of-duty death. “If I can help a survivor in any way, I will,” Debbie said. “Assisting others helps me remember my brother. In many ways, his death has made me a better person; it has pushed me out of my comfort zone and allows me to build connections that I would have otherwise never made.” Debbie Wiseman Surviving Sibling of Trooper Mark Toney Iowa State Patrol EOW 9/20/2011 #SurvivorStories 

On July 21, 2009, Jersey City (NJ) Police Detective Marc Anthony DiNardo was shot while pursuing two murder suspects. After transport to a nearby hospital, Detective DiNardo succumbed to his wounds. He left behind his wife, Mary, and three children; Gwendolyn, Marc Anthony II, and Ella, all of whom were under the age of five. “In the early days, I just wanted to make sure my kids were okay,” Mary said. “We connected with the Garden State C.O.P.S. Chapter to be taken to the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial Wall in April so we could see Marc’s name engraved.” It was during this trip that Mary found that everyone on that bus understood what her family was feeling. Mary added, “We needed C.O.P.S. because they get it.” A month later, the DiNardo family attended National Police Week with the Garden State C.O.P.S. Chapter assisting them every step of the way. “I remember going into orientation and having a mother grab me and hug me, because she knew it was exactly what I needed,” Mary said....

Randomly stumbled across this picture today. Thinking of and missing you, Dad! 💙 #concernsofpolicesurvivors #cops

Following the death of her brother, Iowa State Trooper Mark Toney, EOW 9/20/2011, Debbie Wiseman was looking for someone to understand what she was going through. It didn’t take long before she was put in contact with the Illinois C.O.P.S. Chapter and other surviving siblings who had walked in her shoes. “They convinced me to attend my first “Sibs” Retreat in 2012,” Debbie said. “I made sure to drive myself, in case it was just crying for three straight days. I was done with the crying and hoping to be away from it. I came in and met some truly amazing people, and I have been back about every year since.” Since attending that first Siblings Retreat, Debbie has devoted herself to not just taking care of her own grief needs, but to assisting other survivors with theirs. She recognizes that everybody needs a listening ear of someone who has lived through the experience and can truly relate...

Deputy U.S. Marshal Josie Wells and his wife Channing had just purchased land in Mississippi, they were pregnant with their first son, and Channing had recently graduated with her college degree. You have just graduated and obtained your degree, you are pregnant with a son after trying for so long, and you have just purchased 10 acres in a rural community to build a home. That “American Dream” as Channing refers to it, was turned upside down when her husband was shot and killed on March 10, 2015. “Everything was falling into place; we had just started clearing the land to build our home after finding out we were pregnant around Christmas in 2014,” Channing said. “Fast forward to today; I constructed our dream home like we had planned and Josie Jr. was born.” As Channing was continuing to build a future for herself and Josie Jr., they began attending C.O.P.S. Hands-On Programs, starting with Spouses Retreat in 2016 and now Kids Camp for the first time in 2022....