Following the death of their son, Oregon State Highway Patrol Trooper Scott Lyons – EOW 9/2/1997, Barb and Bill Lyons felt support from C.O.P.S. from the local Oregon Chapter. Ensuring that they would not walk alone on their grief journey. “They sought us out," Bill said. "They provided support at the memorial service in both Oregon and D.C., alongside attending other local event. They stepped up and showed us so much support.” After seeing the assistance that their local chapter was providing them, Bill and Barb both decided that they needed to get involved. They wanted to make sure that they were giving back through the organization that provided them with so much, alongside building up areas within the chapter to best assist survivors. “We want to assist and provide the families with who we are and what we as an organization can provide them with," Barb said. "We let them know that we are here for them and look to build relationships that create a lifelong friendship.” One way that Bill and Barb have been providing assistance and support has been by planning the Oregon Chapter Holiday Gathering. “I said to myself, we have to do something with this," Barb said. "We wanted to ensure that the officers are honored, but we have to see where everyone is at. They (the survivors) have to be able to both laugh and/or cry if that is what they need.” Moving forward, Bill and Barb look forward to continuing their involvement with their local chapter and, of course, to making survivors' holiday season special. Bill & Barb Lyons Surviving Parents of Trooper Scott Lyons Oregon State Police EOW 9/2/1997 #SurvivorStories

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