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Fallen Officers Fund
ASSIST FUND CREATED TO HELP FAMILIES OF SECURITY OFFICERS WHO HAVE FALLEN IN THE LINE-OF-DUTY
Greetings Fellow ASSIST Members and Security Professionals:
The State Executive Board of ASSIST has created a Security Officer�s Memorial Fund so that in the future, monies will be more readily available for the families of Security Officers that have fallen in the line-of-duty.
The �Fallen Officer Fund� created just last month has currently received donations totaling in excess of $2000.00 and its long-term goal is to reach $20,000.00. The fund was created to assist family members of �Fallen Officers� with much needed monies to pay for burial expenses, rent, food and other family expenses that are incurred when a tragedy occurs.
My name is James C. McClure the Vice President of Statewide Patrol, Inc. and a member of ASSIST. I have been recently appointed chairman of a new ASSIST committee on �Fallen Officers� in the security industry. The committee will have a chairman and five(5) chair members (one from each Regional Chapter of ASSIST) and together with the ASSIST Executive Boards approval we will use these funds to help families who have suffered loss.
I have offered my assistance in the formation and running of this committee because we all work in a profession, which does suffer tragic loss from time to time. ASSIST wants to be at the forefront of offering immediate assistance to the families of these �fallen heroes�
I presented Phase I of the ASSIST �Fallen Officer� program and agenda at the March meeting in Austin. The program, although in its infancy, is off and running. The ASSIST website is currently tracking the ASSIST �Fallen Officer Fund� with a MONEY METER and donations are being accepted payable to:
"ASSIST Fallen Officers Fund�
3300 Bee Caves Rd. Suite 650-119
Austin, TX 78746.
The �Fallen Officer� Program has two(2) goals. First, tracking statistical information about the losses to our ranks. Second, the actual �fund� its donors and recipients.
First, in regards to tracking the statistical losses to our ranks the ASSIST website can be used to offer recognition and chronicle all �Fallen Officers� in the State of Texas. This will only be accomplished if all the Chapter Presidents and any members of ASSIST offer any history or incidents that document �Fallen Officers�. Please email me the details and I will begin to track a spreadsheet on the losses to our ranks over the years. For years, the Law Enforcement community has tracked their fallen law enforcement officers. Our profession should do the same. For example, just in the past few years the law enforcement ranks have lost one-hundred and forty-six(146) officers in 2003, one hundred-fifty eight (158) in 2002 and two-hundred and thirty-seven(237) in 2001.
ASSIST believes it proper to remember the fallen heroes in our profession
��lest they never be forgot�.
Second, in regards to the �Fallen Officer Fund� ASSIST would like to thank the persons and companies for their donations to the �Fallen Officer Fund�. The ASSIST website has this list of donors posted,
http://assisttexas.org/fund.shtml
Additionally, the State Executive Board of ASSIST is currently considering a percentage of the STATE CONVENTION FUNDS be donated annually to this �Fallen Officer Fund� so that these monies are readily available when needed most.
If you have any suggestions or would like to discuss the formation of this fund further contact me at:
James C. McClure (512) 326-9411 office
ASSIST Chairman-Fallen Officers (512) 848-4740 cell (best way to reach me)
Vice President/Statewide Patrol, Inc. (512) 209-5000 pager
[email protected]
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