Police family invited to COPS Service of Remembrance

OFFICERS and their families have been invited to commemorate their fallen colleagues at the COPS Annual Service of Remembrance in July.

COPS (Care of Police Survivors) is marking its tenth anniversary this year and is encouraging officers to support the families of their fallen friends and colleagues. The service starts at 11am on 21 July at the National Memorial Arboretum, in Staffordshire.

It forms part of the COPS Annual Survivors Weekend, where families of fallen officers are able to meet other survivors, share experiences and learn how others have rebuilt their lives.

Each year hundreds of police bikers from the law enforcement motorcycle club Blue Knights take part in the Law Ride motorcycle procession to the National Memorial Arboretum to welcome survivors, then ride to Lichfield in convoy as a tribute to deceased officers.

“The families of fallen officers (around 200 survivors) are the VIPS at our event and are joined by chief officers and other representatives of the police family to support them and show that their officer is truly never forgotten by the police service,” states the charity.

“Although we are well supported by chief officers and official representatives, our survivors would love to see more officers from all ranks ‘on The Beat’. That sort of visible display of support is priceless and will be a fitting culmination to a weekend of ‘healing, love and life renewed’.”

Serving officers are encouraged to wear their uniform as a visible show of support for the families of fallen colleagues.

More here: www.ukcops.org and ukcops.wordpress.com