I am planning on attending college and majoring in Criminal Justice/Forensics. I plan on becoming a PA State Trooper and eventually entering the crime scene/forensics division. I have attended NYLSC and NYLC (National Young Leaders Conference) and was a founder of N.O.R.E. (NEPA Oil Relief Effort-NEPAEffort.org) which collected items for the Gulf Oil Spill. Erin’s Police Kids starts The Commonweal
th Blue Ribbon Support Campaign for C.O.P.S. (Concerns of Police Survivors) The local teen is collecting donations that are directly helping the children of fallen officers. Williamsport and Hawley, March 22, 2011– Wallenpaupack Area School District student, Erin Irwin, has started a collection to help the C.O.P.S. organization with its retreat for the children of fallen officers. The student chose to collect the funds as her senior project, required for graduation. Erin’s Police Kids was created after speaking with a C.O.P.S. representative. She learned that new land had been acquired for their retreats which would be used for retreats for children of fallen heroes and SHEroes, a term erin has coined for female officers. Erin immediately teamed up with her sister, Bridget Irwin who is actively pursuing a career in law enforcement, and began contacting local and state law enforcement agencies for their help. The word spread throughout the commonwealth as citizens quickly showed their support for the fallen officers and their families, quickly expanding Erin’s Police Kids’ efforts to five counties including Wayne, Pike, Lycoming, Clinton and Monroe. Support grew quickly thanks to a Facebook Fan page that the group created, “Erins Police Kids”. Erin’s Police Kids will be accepting donations now through the end of National Police Week, held annually in Washington D.C.. Erin will be volunteering at Police Week to assist families of survivors. All donations received will be submitted to C.O.P.S. All donations are to be in the form of check or money order made payable to: C.O.P.S.. If you would like to donate, please send your donation to: Erin’s Police Kids, 1018 Butternut Grove Road, Montoursville, PA 17754. You may also make a donation on the C.O.P.S. website by visiting: www.nationalcops.org. We ask that you send us an email if you donate this way so we may add your donation to our total donation tally, as Erin needs this number for her senior project. Community donation days are being set up at local Wal-Marts and the dates may be found on the groups page. Once a donation is received the donor will receive a blue ribbon, compliments of C.O.P.S.. Erin’s Police Kids asks that the blue ribbons be tied to the antenna of your vehicles now through Police Week, ending May 15, 2011. Obviously the blue ribbons may be displayed on your antennas longer. Erin’s Police Kids is calling it The Commonwealths Blue Ribbon Support Campaign. Erin’s Police Kids is working with local and state law enforcement agencies and is hoping to have the blue ribbons displayed on all patrol vehicles through Police Week as well in support of their fallen brothers and sisters and the ultimate sacrifice. If your department is possibly interested in supporting Erin’s Police Kids, and displaying blue ribbons on your patrol vehicles, please contact us and will deliver ribbons to you. Our goal is to have all agencies in the commonwealth displaying the ribbons. Hopefully the visual symbol will remind officers and citizens of those that gave the ultimate sacrifice and also serve as a reminder to motorists to observe the laws and practice safe driving for everyone’s safety. Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. provides resources to assist in the rebuilding of the lives of surviving families and affected co-workers of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty as determined by Federal criteria. Furthermore, C.O.P.S. provides training to law enforcement agencies on survivor victimization issues and educates the public of the need to support the law enforcement profession and its survivors. Each year, between 140 and 160 officers are killed in the line of duty and their families and co-workers are left to cope with the tragic loss. C.O.P.S. provides resources to help them rebuild their shattered lives. Erin Irwin, said “I thought this was a great idea! I love kids and I thought what a great way for the commonwealth to show their support for fallen officers and their families. Hopefully other states will join and those that have lost a loved one can drive by a stranger and know that stranger supports their family and above all else appreciates the sacrifices that family made on a daily basis and now the ultimate sacrifice their loved one has made. Police work is a passion, it’s not for everyone. But everyone can support us.” Bridget, Erin’s sister, would like to remind drivers, “Please move to the opposite lane if you see an officer conducting a traffic stop, do not drive distracted and wear your seatbelt. Lastly, next time you see a cop, say thanks. Cops are people too!” Erin will be coordinating the collection for surrounding counties in NEPA, however, central PA collections will be handled by her sister, Bridget Irwin, in Williamsport. If you are interested in more information or helping Erin’s Police Kids, please email the group at: [email protected]. You may also find us on Facebook under, “Erins Police Kids”. (contact info on next page)
Contact:
Bridget Irwin
[email protected]
570-435-5316 (Primary Number)
570-470-8889
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For more information regarding C.O.P.S. please see their website: www.nationalcops.org
**********HOW DO I DONATE?**********
1. You may send check or money order PAYABLE TO C.O.P.S. to our address listed below. Please no cash. Erin's Police Kids
1018 Butternut Grove Road
Montoursville, PA 17754
2. If you would like you may also donate on the C.O.P.S. website listed above. However, to keep tally of the amount raised for my project, I ask that you please consider donating through me. If you donate through the national website, please send us an email with the amount of your donation and name so we can add your donation to our tally. Thank you for supporting law enforcements children!
