ASSIST - Associated Security Services and Investigators of the State of Texas

3300 Bee Caves Road · Suite 650-119 · Austin, TX 78746 · Phone (832) 274-1079

The Success Story Continues as members of the El Dorado/ASSIST Workers’ Compensation Purchasing Group earn dividends for the 6th consecutive year!
(View PDF, 156Kb)

Fallen Officers
Fund

Goal $150,000

Currently:
$61,205.53

• Donations
• Disbursements

THE ASSIST BOARD

President
Bob Burt

Exec. Vice President
Walt Roberts

Vice President
Alan Trevino

State Treasurer
Denise Nicholson

State Secretary
Michael McGregor

Regions Coordinator
Susan Griswold

Past President
Dan Flores

Central Texas Region President
Charlie Deckert

El Paso Region President
Jessie Ruelas

Gulf Coast Region President
Ruben Amaya

North Texas Region President
Kathy McReynolds

Rio Grande Valley Region President
Jaime Ochoa

South Texas Alamo Region President
James Prock

News & Events Committee Chairman
Dave Scepanski

Member Services Director
Lauren Oakley

Webmaster
Dave Scepanski

Home

Emergencies/Disasters - Companies Available
Updated Jul-29-10

By-Laws - Ethics - Mission
Updated Mar-28-06

ASSIST Board Minutes
Updated Aug-11-10

ASSIST Board Members
Updated Jul-29-10

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

ASSIST REGIONS:
• CENTRAL TEXAS
• EL PASO
• GULF COAST
• NORTH TEXAS
• RIO GRANDE VALLEY
• SOUTH TEXAS ALAMO

History of ASSIST
Updated Feb-1-06

Assault Against a Security Officer
Updated Jun-9-10

Fallen Officers Fund
Updated Jun-9-10

Companies Operating Illegally
Coming Soon

Managing Security Today
Updated May-17-10

Lobbyist for ASSIST
Updated Jun-9-10

Past Conventions
Updated Feb-25-10

Help Wanted
Updated Apr-25-06

Texas Mutual Insurance
Updated Dec-27-04

Lifetime Members
Updated Oct-7-09

Honorary Members
Updated Oct-8-04

Online Member Database

Articles & Press Releases
Updated Jun-9-10

ASSIST MEMBERSHIP

Member Services

Who Has the Trophy?

Dave's Corner
Updated Aug-25-09

Discussion Board

LEAPS Chapters:
-Dallas
-El Paso
-Houston (Coming Soon)

Helpful Links
Updated Jan-14-06

Fallen Officer Program

Michael J. McGregor
FALLEN OFFICER FUND DIRECTOR

As we finish the first quarter of 2010 I am happy to report that there have been no line-of-duty deaths reported. I would like to use this issue instead to talk about something that I feel is important. That subject is the lack of support for the Fallen Officers Fund from the officers themselves.

Five years ago ASSIST established the FOF. At that time ASSIST stated that membership in ASSIST by the officer or his employer were NOT criteria to receive benefits from the FOF. Most of the officer’s families who have received benefits from the FOF were not members of ASSIST. Over the last five years 90 percent of the funds raised for the FOF have come from ASSIST sponsored fund raisers. Most notably the Gulf Coast Chapter every May holds their annual barbecue.

Last year they raised $10,000 to support the fund. The North Texas Region holds its annual symposium and donates the proceeds to the FOF. Other fund raising activities during the year by ASSIST raise the bulk of our funds. Some officers through their employers participate in payroll deductions to support the FOF. When an officer is killed in a Line of Duty death we have responded and assisted the families based on their needs. The FOF has provided financial, emotional and psychological support to the families of Fallen Officers.

The state of Texas has more than 110,000 licensed security officers working for over four thousand employers. My question is where is the support of the officers who are the real benefactors of the FOF?

I do have to say that in talking to officers throughout the state they are not aware of the FOF or what it does. Even the companies and officers who have gone through the trauma of a fallen officer and received support from the FOF fail to step up and support the FOF.

I am calling upon the managers, operators and owners of every security firm in this state to educate their employees regarding the FOF and what it will, do, does and can provide for them. It is essential for the pride and professionalism of security officers in Texas that they know they are important and that the greatest of all sacrifices is respected and honored by their peers.

Employers can do everything or anything from providing payroll deduction resources to simply placing a can at your front desk on payday and allowing the officers to donate their loose change.

Now the question is who will respond to this challenge. For if we do not respond now who will and when? I or the regional representatives are available to speak at employee meetings or LEAPS presentations to the officers. Feel free to call me for any information or assistance. It is as important for the officers to know they are participating as the donations their participation will generate. The FOF in Texas was the first to be started in any state we are aware of. Several states have since followed and established funds for their Fallen Officers.

The future of the FOF is not in jeopardy as the same persons who have supported and nurtured it from the beginning will continue to support this cause. What is at stake is the difference between building the FOF into something truly able to meet the needs of the families of the Fallen Officers as well as other future goals that will benefit the Security Officers of Texas. It can only happen with the support of the professional employers and officers of the State of Texas.

On the subject of fund raising on Saturday May 1st the Gulf Coast region will host their annual fund raising Barbeque. To get tickets for a great event or make a donation Ruben Amaya the Gulf Coast President would love to hear from you. He can be reached at gulfcoastpresident@assisttexas.org.

The North Texas Region will present their annual Law Enforcement and Security Symposium June 15. Our topic will be “Active Shooter Awareness & Response” and Mayor Tom Leppert of Dallas is scheduled to appear. For more info you can contact me at mmcg@aprosec.com.

For information or forms for Payroll Deductions of Donations, information on supporting or becoming involved in the FOF, or info on what the fund is and what it does feel free to contact me. I can be reached at 214-729-0667 or at fallenofficer@assisttexas.org.

Mike McGregor
Fallen Officer Fund Director
ASSIST State Secretary

Donations to the Fallen Officer Fund can be made online (click here) or by mailing them to: ASSIST Fallen Officers Fund, 3300 Bee Caves Road Suite 650-119, Austin, TX 78746. For additional information click here or contact Mike McGregor, Chairman of the Fallen Officer Fund, at (214) 729-0667, or e-mail him at fallenofficer@assisttexas.org.

Click here to download the Employee Deduction Application (PDF)

(Top)