When a police officer is killed in the line of duty, large police departments have established policies and procedures that are put into action immediately. However, most officer fatalities occur in smaller departments rather than in densely populated cities. These smaller departments account for the majority of officer deaths.

The Board of Trustees of the Foundation is composed of 17 senior officers from large police, sheriff’s, and state departments. All members are experts in pension and disability benefits, and each trustee serves on their department’s, city’s, or county’s pension board and/or holds a leadership position within their respective police associations. Each trustee has a designated territory where they use their connections within the law enforcement community to identify officers who have been killed in their region. When such a death occurs, the trustee informs the Foundation, which then contacts the officer’s department. The Board, along with the Foundation’s general counsel, oversees all legal actions and supports families in completing necessary documentation. In essence, the Foundation embodies the spirit of “cops helping cops.”