Greater Houston

Concerns of Police Survivors

"Rebuilding Shattered Lives"

 

 
 

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Houston, TX 77273-3362

Ph:  832-257-1499

 

 

Texas Peace Officers' Memorial

Austin, TX

 

 

 

 

 
Police officers give more than speeding tickets - they give their lives.  Support law enforcement 24-7-365.
 

GHCOPS Board

President

Cathy Hill (W/2000)

cathyjhill@sbcglobal.net

 

On a chilly December morning, Cathy Hill kissed her husband goodbye and told him that she loved him.  Little did she know that within an hour after telling him goodbye, she would learn that she had told him goodbye for the last time.  She was left alone with two daughters to raise by herself.  How could this happen to her?  This wasn't supposed to happen.  All the dreams she and Barry had shared and planned for the last 20 years were gone.  Cathy is committed to the cause of C.O.P.S. and is ready to help others who have to follow in her footsteps.

 

Vice President

  Dianne Egner (I/2003)

  kd.egner@att.net

 

Life was changed forever on July 17, 2003 when my son-in-law was killed in a car accident while on duty.  My story, like so many others, is filled with tragedy, hurt, and a sad feeling of where do we go from here? That is why I decided to join the C.O.P.S. organization.  There are others like myself that don't realize we are not alone.  The C.O.P.S. family helped me tremendously with that feeling of displacement that an "in-law" can feel.  My story will be told to many and, hopefully, the power of healing will be passed on to someone else and they will also help us get the message out:  You are not alone - I and many others are here to help you.

 

Deputy Constable John David Garcia

Montgomery County Constable's Office, Pct  5

EOW  1/17/2003

Secretary

Carol Lane (S/2004)

calane1888@att.net

 

At approximately 3:00 a.m. on September 16, 2004, the most dreaded phone call I ever received was made by my brother's wife of twenty-nine years, Renee Lane.  She said Mike had been flying the helicopter for the Beaumont Police Department that night and his helicopter had crashed.  Later we learned Mike had been killed instantly.  Mike was an accomplished pilot.  C.O.P.S. has helped me realize that there are others who have experienced the pain of losing a loved one in the line of duty.  Now, I am ready to help other survivors.

 

Sergeant Mike Lane

Beaumont Police Department

 EOW 9/16/2004

 

Treasurer

Amanda Wass (W/2006)

awass4218@yahoo.com

 

Being a widow at age 34 and left with a daughter to raise on my own is something I never imagined would happen to me, but it did.  On April 23, 2006, my loving husband of eight years, Deputy Sheriff Donald Wass, was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident enroute to the department headquarters. A speeding driver entered his lane and struck his motorcycle head-on. Part of me died on that day too. C.O.P.S. has given me the support I so desperately needed. Meeting and talking with other C.O.P.S. survivors has really helped me in my grief journey and I look forward to helping other survivors with their healing.

 

        Deputy Sheriff Donald Wass

        Washington County Sheriff's Office

   EOW  4/23/2006

National C.O.P.S. Immediate Past President & 

GH C.O.P.S. Immediate Past President 

Jean Hill (P/2000)

bjeanhill@sbcglobal.net

Jean Hill's life was changed forever the morning of December 4, 2000 when she received a phone call from her daughter-in-law telling her that she and her husband needed to come to her house immediately because something had happened to their son.   Deputy Barry Hill was literally executed by a man who had been breaking into cars and stealing parts.  Barry  was shot seven times.   Life will never be normal again in the Hill family because normal is having Barry with them; but Jean and her family are survivors and, with the emotional support of C.O.P.S., they know they can make it through the hard times.   Working with the C.O.P.S. organization has enabled Jean to focus on the grief of other police survivors and to work towards helping them rebuild their lives as she slowly rebuilds hers. 

 

Deputy Sheriff Barry Hill

Harris County Sheriff's Department

EOW  12/4/2000