The Correctional Peace Officers Foundation, Inc.

Transcription

1 The Correctional Peace Officers Foundation, Inc. Gone But Not Forgotten Celebrating 30 Years of Supporting Our Fallen Correctional Families The CPO Foundation was created in the early 1980s by five Correctional Officers, four of whom worked at Folsom State Prison in California, while the fifth was in the California Youth Authority. These five Correctional Officers had a vision. In the early 70s and 80s, 20 Correctional Officers and staff were killed in the line of duty in California. There was NO ONE and NO ORGANIZATION to help these Officers families. Many people in those days did NOT have insurance, including these 20 Fallen Corrections Professionals in California, so that ALL of their widows were left virtually penniless. In 1984, there was nothing we could do for them, but the CPOF s five founding fathers wanted to make sure that, from then on, there would be an organization in place to Take Care of Our Own. Thus the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation came into being North Market Blvd., Sacramento, California ~ P O Box , Sacramento, California (916) (800) 800-CPOF

2 Table of Contents The Idea, The Beginning, The Dream...by Charleene Corby..... Page 4 Barbara Burchfield & CPOF... Pages years of the Project 2000 series... Pages 7-21 Photos of Fallen Correctional Personnel... Pages Correctional Personnel/Military Officers... Pages Staff, Representatives and Volunteers over the years... Pages & Honor Guards over the years... Pages Catastrophic Assistance Program... Pages CPOF Kids & Teens... Pages CPOF Board of Directors... Pages List of All Fallen Officers... Pages City of New York Department of Corrections Pipe Band... Page 58 CPOF National Honor Guard Team... Page 59 Remembering CPOF National Director Larry Corby... Page 62 Pictured above is the motorcycle trailer that David and Ruthie Reeves had specially designed in honor of their son, Army Staff Sergeant Jason Reeves, and all of the men and woman who were killed while serving our Country. Pictured right is the CPOF Trailer that travels across the country to each site for Project 2000 every June.

3 The Idea, The Beginning, The Dream... When Sal Osuna, one of the five Founding Directors of the Correctional Peace Officers (CPO) Foundation, asked me if I would like to come to work for the CPO Foundation, I was hesitant and had a few questions. First, what were the plans or thoughts on getting C/Os to donate and become Supporting Members? What kind of budget or finances did the CPOF have to work with? And how were they planning to promote the CPO Foundation? The response I got was, We were hoping you would help us figure that out. My name is Charleene Corby and I accepted the position and the challenge. I say challenge because it certainly was that, every step of the way. This was long before s and -- imagine this -- even before fax machines. In this time period everything was done through the mail system. To get clearances and approval to address shift changes I would mail my information to be checked and followed up with phone call(s). I would get my driving directions from my husband, Larry, and from a map. We all know the terms, You can t miss it and You can t get lost. Well, I certainly missed many turns and often got lost. I learned quickly to allow myself plenty of time, because if you miss a 5:30 AM shift change you have to wait eight hours for the next shift change to take place. In the 1980s California had 12 prisons. Solo, I began promoting and talking about CPOF. Again, this was a challenge. I had a lot of doors shut in my face but, as anyone who knows me knows, I rarely take no for an answer and can be very persistent. Before Char ( BC ) the CPOF s funds primarily came from fundraisers such as the Bentley Bros. Circus, Rodeos, and Music shows. Year after year, Sal Osuna would use all of his vacation time to strongly promote ticket sales for these events that took place all over California and even throughout Nevada, Utah, Arizona and several other states. A few years later, the CPOF started holding golf tournaments that were very successful and raised money for our Survivors Fund as well... To read the rest of Char s article on the Beginning please donate today and receive your copy of the History of the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation.

4 These pictures are from the funeral service of Sergeant Hal Burchfield in June It all began with Hal... Correctional Sergeant Howell ( Hal ) Burchfield was stabbed to death by a conspiracy of three inmates at San Quentin State Prison, California, on June 8, This terrible murder occurred only several days after the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation had officially been designated as an IRC 501(c)(3) charity by the IRS. Sergeant Burchfield s widow, Barbara, and their children thus became the very first Correctional Family to receive the CPO Foundation s death benefit as defined by the By-Laws of the newly bona fide Correctional Peace Officers Foundation. Barbara is not only the first recipient of the CPO Foundation's death benefit, but she became the first volunteer and eventually the CPO Foundation s Research Analyst. As a volunteer working tirelessly with Char in the early days, and always as a profoundly eloquent spokeswoman for the CPO Foundation, Barbara was well known to the vast majority of the CPO Foundation Supporting Members. She is beloved by all to whom she has reached out with her unique compassion, insight and empathy. continued next page...

5 PROJECT 2000 XIV ~ June 19-22, 2003 Charleston, SC PROJECT 2000 XV ~ June 17-20, 2004 Washington D.C.

6 PROJECT 2000 XXIV ~ June 13-16, 2013 Sparks, NV

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8 Catastrophic Assistance Program Utah - Barbara Burchfield with Warden and Mrs. Tom House. Warden House s brother, Correctional Officer Fred House, was murdered January 28, 1988 in the line of duty. A bit of history about the CPO Foundation s Catastrophic Assistance Program (CAP): In late December just a few days after Christmas -- the CPO Foundation for the first time was called upon to assist a Supporting Member in a time of need. One of the three sons of Group Supervisor Karl Niemann of the Fred C. Nelles School (now closed) was hit by a drunk driver and killed on his way home from a church function. G/S Niemann was a single father, relatively new in the (then) California Youth Authority, and then working only part time. Jean Smith, our first and foremost Volunteer, called and gave me detailed information about G/S Niemann s situation. My heart ached for him and his sons loss. Even more strongly, I felt that the CPO Foundation should try to assist him in a practical way -- and the right way. The rest, as they say, is history -- Char California - Uriah, son of Don and Mara Alexander, passed away Monday, July 1, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander wanted us to thank every one of you who blood tested in hopes of being the bone marrow match Uriah so desperately needed. In 1991, Don Alexander was a Sergeant at Chuckawalla State Prison, Blythe, California and formerly from CIM, the California Institution for Men. California - C/O Anthony Dornbeck s infant son Tyler was born with severe birth defects. Tyler lived for only two weeks. New Jersey - C/O Leon Levens was found dead in the tower of his facility on October 6, Pictured is the Levens family. Texas - C/O Crew Rosser was seriously injured in an auto accident. Texas - Sergeant John Kinser s five-year-old son Kevin was in a serious bicycle accident. He suffered a ruptured colon and was in intensive care for over a week. Oregon - C/O Chris Reid s four-year-old daughter Emily has cancer that began in her spine and spread to the brain. Arkansas - C/O Jeffrey Baker s wife required multiple bypass surgery.

9 The Children are what it is ALL About...

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