About Us

The Central California C.O.P.S. organization was founded on August 7, 1999 as a local chapter under the direction of the National C.O.P.S. office which organized in 1984. The Central California chapter encompasses 14 counties, including:

Tuolomne, Stanislaus, Mono, Mariposa, Merced, San Benito, Monterey, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, Inyo, Madera, Kern and San Luis Obispo.

About C.O.P.S.

Each year, between 140 and 160 officers are killed in the line of duty and their families and co-workers are left to cope with the tragic loss. Central California C.O.P.S. is working with the many national chapters. They provide resources to help the survivors rebuild their shattered lives. The main operating area of the Central California C.O.P.S. Chapter are fourteen counties in Central California. There is no membership fee to join C.O.P.S., for the price paid is already too high.

C.O.P.S. was organized in 1984 with 110 members. Today C.O.P.S.' membership is over 14,000 families. Members include spouses, children, parents, siblings, significant others, and affected co-workers of officers killed in the line of duty according to Federal government criteria. C.O.P.S. is governed by a National Board of law enforcement survivors. All programs and services are administered by the National Office in Camdenton, Missouri. Chapters function in several states at the grass-roots level.

C.O.P.S.' programs for survivors include the National Police Survivors' Conference held each May during National Police Week and many other assistance programs. Please feel free to visit the National C.O.P.S. Website for further information.

Central California C.O.P.S. Chapter knows that a survivor's level of distress is directly affected by the agency's response to the tragedy. Central California C.O.P.S. Chapter, therefore, offers training and assistance to law enforcement agencies within its operating area on how to respond to the tragic loss of a member of the law enforcement profession.

C.O.P.S. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. C.O.P.S. programs and services are funded by grants and donations.