Behind the Badge Foundation Programs
Our Line of Duty Death Response Team is a recognized, valued resource for law enforcement agencies around the state at the time of a line of duty death. We provide emotional support to the family and the agency; as well as assist with the planning of a full honors law enforcement memorial service. The Foundation makes a donation to each memorial to help defray the cost of the memorial service. Our goal: we do not want the family to receive any bills for the memorial service.
The Foundation helps defray the costs of family members traveling to Washington, DC for National Police Week the year their officer is honored. We also provide financial assistance for travel to Hands On Camps/Retreats. These camps are loss and family member specific - helping the survivor on their journey to their new normal.
Our newest program is the Law Enforcement Family Support Network. The Foundation is the umbrella and resource for individual law enforcement agency support groups. Annually we host a conference at little to no cost to the attendee. Subject matter at the conference ranges from starting and maintaining a healthy support group - to peer support and critical incident support training. Other subjects include: do you have your personal affairs in order?; healthy families; communication skills; and time for socializing and networking.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
A dream turned into reality when our Law Enforcement Memorial was completed and dedicated to the citizens of Washington State. Years of "grass roots" committee meetings and fund raising raised the two plus million dollars needed to build the Memorial. We have funds held in reserve to care for the Memorial in perpetuity and the organization is debt free. The Memorial is located on the north side of the Temple of Justice; on the State Capitol Campus in Olympia.
Assisting catastrophically injured officers - injured in the line of duty - is a program still under development. Ideas of ways to assist the officer and the family range from financial assistance - to - providing some kind of insurance.