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Greater Houston Concerns of Police Survivors "Rebuilding Shattered Lives" |
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Greater Houston Concerns of Police Survivors "Rebuilding Shattered Lives" |
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GHC.O.P.S. Board Members |
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President Cathy Hill (S/2000)
On
a chilly December morning, Cathy Hill kissed her husband goodbye and
told him that she loved him. Little did she know
Harris County Sheriff's Department EOW 12/4/2000
Second Vice President Dianne Egner (I/2003) 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 Treasurer Amanda Wass (W/2006)
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.
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First Vice President Ron Bennett (P/2002)
I have been a
surviving parent for nearly six years. I became involved with
C.O.P.S. in the fall of 2002 after my son, Harris County Deputy Sheriff
Shane R. Bennett, was killed in the line of duty on June 12 while
responding to a home invasion call on the city's Northeast side.
Since I have
Deputy Sheriff Shane R. Bennett Harris County Sheriff's Office EOW 6-12-2002 Secretary Carol Lane (S/2004) calane1888@att.net
At approximately
3:00 a.m. September 16, 2004, the most dreaded phone call I ever
received was made by my brother's wife of twenty-nine years, Renee Lane.
Beaumont Police Department EOW 9/16/2004 National C.O.P.S. Immediate Past President & GH C.O.P.S. Past President & Advisor Jean Hill (P/2000)
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
Harris County Sheriff's Department EOW 12/4/2000
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Greater Houston Concerns of Police Survivors P. O. Box 73362 Houston, TX 77273-3362 832-257-1499 Fax: 281-353-1638
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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.
been involved with the
C.O.P.S. organization, I am prepared
to help other surviving parents, spouses, children and siblings deal
with the healing process needed after losing their loved one. I
look forward to being of service to the existing and future survivors of
our fallen heroes and to be involved with their healing process as
needed.
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 on in the line of duty.
Now, I am ready to help other survivors.
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.