The C.O.P.S. National Board
The C.O.P.S. National Board is composed of 10 voting members and 2 non-voting members. Voting members include the National President, the Immediate Past President, and 8 Regional Trustees.
Non-voting members are the Executive Director and the National Chapter Coordinator. The National President and the 8 Trustees are elected each May at the May 12 board meeting.
To run for office, a candidate must be a law enforcement survivor and must have passed the one-year anniversary of their officer's death. Board members develop policy, govern the organization, and provide peer-support and information about C.O.P.S. programs and services. All Board Members can be reached through the C.O.P.S. National Office.
The National Board of C.O.P.S. for 2009-2010 is comprised of:
National President
Mrs. Jennifer Thacker, surviving spouse of KY Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Investigator Brandon Thacker, EOW, 4/16/98, was elected as the 14th President of Concerns of Police Survivors. Jennifer, a resident of Louisville, KY, served 4 years on the National Board as the Southern Region Seaboard Trustee, was a founder and President of the Kentucky Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors, and received recognition as a “Gutsy Gal” in Today's Women Magazine for her work with law enforcement survivors. Her daughter, Katherine, 12, is her mom’s biggest fan. jenniferthacker_cops@msn.com
Immediate Past President
Mrs. Jean Hill, surviving mother of Harris County (TX) Deputy Barry Hill, EOW 12/4/00, completed her term as National President of C.O.P.S. and now serves as the Immediate Past President on the Board. A resident of Houston, TX, Jean traveled the country extensively during her term as President and represented the organization while attending many conferences, trainings, and making presentations on C.O.P.S. She is congratulated for two very successful years as President and thanked for the endless energy and effort she gave to promoting C.O.P.S. Jean replaces Mrs. Shirley Gibson, Washington, DC, as the Immediate Past President of C.O.P.S. bjeanhill@sbcglobal.net
Regional Trustees
Northeast Region
Retired Chief Paul Armitage, Middleton, MA, was elected to the Northeast Trustee position in 2008 and is serving his second term. Paul lost his close friend and co-worker in a line of duty incident on 7/10/97. Paul has been a long-time mentor with the C.O.P.S. Kids program during National Police Week. He looks forward to dealing with survivors in the States of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey and hopes to open more doors for C.O.P.S. with agency administrators nationwide. pfarmitage@comcast.net
Northern Seaboard Region
Northern Seaboard Trustee Eleanor Allione was reelected to her position for a third term. Eleanor is the surviving mother of DE State Trooper Frances Collender, EOW 2/6/01. She and husband, Joe, reside in Middletown, DE. Eleanor looks forward to working with survivors and agencies again in the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia, and West Virginia. troopersmom4COPS@yahoo.com
Southern Seaboard Region
The Southern Seaboard Trustee position is held by Linda Gregory of Germantown, TN. This is her second term in this poition. Linda is a surviving sibling of Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer James Moon, EOW 9/27/71. Linda is a founder and Chapter President of the West Tennessee C.O.P.S. Chapter and her C.O.P.S.’ service area covers the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. lmoongregory@comcast.net
Great Lakes Region
John Kalaman became a surviving father on January 12, 1998, when his son, John P. Kalaman, of the Centerville, OH, Police Department, was struck and killed by a vehicle. John has attended NPW and Parents’ Retreat every year. In 2006 he spoke at a “Traumas of Law Enforcement” training and became a Regional Director for Ohio C.O.P.S. John looks forward to serving survivors in the states of Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. This is his second term as the Great Lakes Trustee. glcops33@sbcglobal.net
Plains Region
Paul Gertsen, surviving sibling of Deputy Sheriff William Davis, EOW 11/03/03 is in his second term as Plains Region Trustee. Paul, a resident of Roseville, MN, is the founder of the MN Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors and is employed by the St. Paul Library System. Paul will be working with survivors of Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Colorado. paulgertsen8080@aol.com
Gulf Region
The Gulf Region will again be represented for the fourth year by Charles Shinholser of Jacksonville, FL. Charles is the surviving father of Officer Ray Shinholser, Jacksonville (FL) Sheriff’s Office, EOW 12/14/88. Charles will again be working with survivors and law enforcement agencies in Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, Puerto Rico and Caribbean Territories. crshinholser@hotmail.com
Mountain Region
The Mountain Region Trustee position is held by Earl Fisher of Glendale, AZ, who is an affected co-worker. This will be Earl's second year in this position. Earl is a retired officer with the Phoenix Police Department, is active with the AZ C.O.P.S. Chapter, has organized a run that raises needed funds for the chapter, and will be working in the states of Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. 2740@cox.net
Pacific Region
The Pacific Region Trustee position is held by Andy Powell, surviving in-law of Deputy Eric Thach, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, EOW 10/8/99. Andy, a resident of Temecula, CA, will be serving C.O.P.S.’ interests in the states of California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana and the Mariana Islands. Andy has been the President of Southern Cal C.O.P.S. and taken a leadership role at the annual In-Laws Retreat. This is his second year in this position. apowell@hfinc.com
Non-Voting Board Members
Executive Director
Suzie Sawyer has been the Executive Director of C.O.P.S. since it was founded in 1984. Suzie oversees the day-to-day operation of C.O.P.S. and the C.O.P.S. staff. Suzie is one of C.O.P.S. law enforcement trainers. She also serves as secretary of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) and oversees the coordination of National Police Week activities. Suzie and husband Buzz live in Camdenton, MO, where the C.O.P.S. National Office is located. cops@nationalcops.org
National Chapter Coordinator
Madeline Neumann. The Chapter Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the functioning of C.O.P.S. 48 chapters nationwide. She helps new chapters organize and assists established C.O.P.S. Chapters throughout the year with their administrative chores. The Chapter Coordinator also authors the Chapter Connection, a newsletter to chapters from the National Office. Madeline Neumann, a survivor herself, is very supportive of her work with C.O.P.S. Madeline can be reached at ChapterCoordinator@gmail.com
Past Presidents
All Past National Presidents of Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. serve as ex-officio board members. Past Presidents are:
Lynn BeBeau
(1984-1985)
Yolanda Haralson Cline
(1985-1986)
Donna Lamonaco
(1986-1988)
Vivian Eney
(1988-1991)
Barbara Dodge
(1991-1992)
Kathleen Young
(1992-1994)
Sue Lange
(1994-1996)
Sharon Story
(1996-1998)
Debbie Geary
(1998-2000)
Molly Winters
(2000-2002)
Linda Hintergardt-Soubirous
(2002-2004)
Shirley Gibson
(2004-2006)