About our organization

The Beginning

In July of 2018, Danny Overley, Retired Deputy Chief of Indianapolis Police Department and Immediate Past Trustee Grand Lodge Fraternal Order of Police, approached the National Board of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) about helping the families and co-workers of officers who die by suicide. The National Board requested the Executive Director of C.O.P.S. research options on how C.O.P.S. could help these survivors. After extensive research it was determined C.O.P.S. did not have the capability to manage what could ultimately triple the number of survivors it served. Shortly thereafter, Shelley Jones, C.O.P.S. Director of Operations, submitted a proposal to the C.O.P.S. National Board to help these families. This proposal included Laurie Putnam, C.O.P.S. Director of Chapter and Survivor Support joining Shelley.


In January 2020, the National Board of C.O.P.S., voted to help start a separate organization for survivors of law enforcement suicide. The new organization would be modeled after C.O.P.S. and would bring the services offered by C.O.P.S. to law enforcement suicide survivors by providing Survivor Weekend Retreats and a peer support network to survivors. With the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), supporting this mission, Shelley and Laurie began the journey alongside a committee of survivors. SBS was made possible through the generous donations made by the C.O.P.S.' National Board and Past Leadership and Law Enforcement United.

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    Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation, Inc.

    The committee comprised of Shannon Dance, surviving spouse; Jason Gould, surviving adult child; Danny Overley, retired Deputy Chief/FOP; Anastasia Pytal, mental health liaison; Brian Stahl, surviving co-worker; and Julie Zielinski, surviving mother began working on the name, mission, vision, values and the organization's logo. 


    Shortly after meeting, Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation (SBS) was incorporated with the mission of fostering hope by uniting survivors of law enforcement suicide to support one another and honor our fallen heroes. 

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    Survivors of Blue Suicide Foundation, Inc. (SBS) addresses the emotional and psychological needs, that arise from the loss of a loved one by suicide in the law enforcement profession. The family and co-workers of any active or retired law enforcement officer who has died by suicide in the United States and its territories may use the services of SBS. 


    VISION

    To provide all survivors and co-workers of law enforcement suicide with enduring support while working with the agency to provide respect and dignity to the families and law enforcement community.

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    CORE VALUES

    Remembrance: We inspire others to honor the life they lived, not how they died.

    Integrity: We are guided by collective moral compasses, transparency, and fiscal responsibility.

    Dignity: We are committed to respecting survivors, law enforcement officers and the agencies impacted by officer suicide.

    Diversity: We encourage and celebrate the diverse voices of all suicide survivors and the law enforcement community.

    Support: We are dedicated to serving those affected by an officer suicide by fostering lifelong relationships, compassion and understanding.

    Community: We strive to educate law enforcement officers and agencies on best practices to help guide them and the families after an officer suicide.

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    The flag represents America's law enforcement who have died by suicide.


    The teal and purple waves in the flag represent suicide awareness.


    The blue wave in the flag represents law enforcement's thin blue line.


    The white writing symbolizes hope.


    The infinity symbol is our limitless support to survivors in the blue family.

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    Linda Pope

    Linda Pope is the surviving spouse of Officer Daniel J. Pope, who was shot and killed in the line of duty while working for the Cincinnati (OH) Police Department on 12/5/1997. Linda became involved with Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) by attending Spouses Retreat in 1998 and over the years, pioneered the incorporation of several C.O.P.S. Chapters, including Ohio. Linda said, "When I learned of this new organization that was being developed and mirrored after my own organization, C.O.P.S., I felt compelled to help. As a survivor myself, I know the devastation of losing an officer in the line of duty and wanted to help in some small way the survivors of law enforcement suicide. It has been such an honor to design this logo and truly honor those officers who have died by suicide."

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