SURVIVOR ADVISORY COUNCIL

Samantha Poore

National President

Samantha is the surviving spouse of Officer Sean Poore of the California Highway Patrol, EOW 10/23/2018.

Sean and Samantha have 3 incredible children who all miss him dearly. Sean took his own life while on duty. Since that day, Samantha has never stopped fighting. She has been an advocate for mental health for all, with an emphasis on first responders; this fight also includes honoring first responders who have died by suicide. Championing a message that says “it’s okay to not be okay,” Samantha hopes to change the stigma on mental health within law enforcement so that one day no person will feel the hopelessness that Sean did; ensuring that no family will have to experience the deep loss she, their children, and many others, now carry.

Debra Downey

Midwest Region (IA, KS, MN, MO*, ND, NE, & SD)

Debra is the surviving spouse of retired Trooper Myron Downey of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, EOW 9/29/2020. 

After his medical retirement in 2018, Myron and Debra worked to educate first responders about post-traumatic stress disorder and the physical impacts of cumulative PTSD. Since his death, Debra has continued to speak to first responders and their families about the impact of PTSD, advocating for more readily accessible resources for families and educating agencies on how to better support suicide survivors. 

Carrie Lawrence

West Central Region

(AZ, CO, MO*, MT, NM, UT, & WY)

Carrie is the surviving spouse of Andrew Lawrence of the Kansas City (MO) Police Department, EOW 1/31/2021.

Carrie and her 2 children miss Andy everyday and cherish the memories shared with him.



Carrie grew up in the Blue Family as her father is a 25-year veteran for the same department. After experiencing the death of her husband, she learned about resources that are available to officers in crisis. She has talked about their family’s story in hopes for more communication between officers, their family members, and the departments to get the help officers need. 

Dave Perley

Central Region (IL, IN, KY, MI, TN, & WI)

David is the surviving sibling of Deputy Alan D. Perley of the Lake County (IL) Sheriff’s Department, EOW 07/27/2018. Alan was previously with Los 

Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Alan took his life off duty. The loss of Alan was a shock not only to his family but his coworkers.

David has been in Law Enforcement since 1988 following his brothers footsteps. He has held a number of positions in Law Enforcement and is Police Chief in a small town in Iowa.

Ashley Ubois

Western Region (AK, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR, & WA)

Ashley is the surviving adult child of Investigator Frank Ubois of the Sacramento County (CA) District Attorneys Office, EOW 3/20/21.

Frank was known in the Sacramento Metropolitan Area for his inter-agency collaboration, specifically in Auto Theft and Insurance Fraud. His passion for law enforcement meant so much to him, that he helped a number of people choose a career in law enforcement, as well as continue their investigative careers with the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office. If he was not in the office or in the field, Frank was with his family at a baseball game or poolside with a cigar and country music.

Ashley, whom Frank would take with him to preliminary hearings, trials, and sentencings during her school breaks, was drawn to the criminal justice field due to her father's passion. Ashley interned with a local police department and California Alcoholic Beverage Control during college. Ashley is currently assigned to a specialized unit where she works closely with police agencies and teaches officers how to write reports and conduct investigations. Her father's passing greatly moved Ashley and the local police community; one of Frank's mentee's directed Ashley to Survivor's of Blue Suicide. She hopes that with her involvement in Survivors of Blue Suicide that other survivors will feel supported and heard.