in the news
2024-Fourth Quarter Review
A note from our founder...
Every year, we pick a theme word that we keep in mind as we plan, work, and respond to those who are in difficult times. “Light” is the word we chose for 2024. But as we look back, this year has been a dark and difficult year for the country, for law enforcement, and for our organization. Our team members underwent much sickness, several surgeries, family difficulties, and burnout. We also experienced lower giving numbers this year, which many nonprofits reported across the country. But through it all, we have continued to be light amid a dark time. How? By looking to God, who is the source of Light.
Although our nonprofit is not a religious organization, our work originates and springs from hearts of faith in God, hope that anchors us, and love for our officers and families. And we indeed brought light to those we served this year, as we more than doubled the number of lives saved from suicide, implemented a national support helpline for families, were present to help families after line of duty deaths in a couple areas (this is new), created proactive education for brand new officer families, added chaplains to our peer team, prayed for over 60 departments, and expanded our social media and website reach to over 57,000 folks!
In our fourth quarter, our work didn’t slow down a bit! We added a state liaison in Wisconsin, filmed training videos, planned for 2025, and more (highlighted below). I am blown away by the caliber of the team we have created. They are respected all over the nation as they give thousands of hours of work within their skill sets, and do so with kind hearts, ready to help at a moment’s notice…for the sake of law enforcement families just like them. From the words of retired Sheriff D’Agostini from El Dorado County, California, at our Barrels & Badges fundraiser, “What we’re doing is new to law enforcement…educating the families.
This hasn’t happened before now. And it’s about time!”
We are building resilient blue homes. Raising up families equipped for the career that affects us all…our men and women in uniform who run to danger, protect us from evil, and bring peace to chaos. We support homes that are vital to our communities, our states, and our country.
Thank you for your support, for your prayers, and for being a part of our movement! God bless you!!!
Victoria
Victoria Newman
Founder, President
NEW RESOURCE: Hospital Trauma Guide
Our new resource, the Hospital Trauma binder was created by Heidi Paulson. This resource helps to keep the overwhelming amount of information together in one place if a traumatic event leads to a hospital stay for an officer, as well as has encouragement and tips placed throughout.
If you are in need of a copy or want one for your department, please reach out to us at admin@how2loveourcops.org, as we are still working out the distribution details.
SPOTLIGHT: STATE LIAISONS
H2LOC is hard at work across the country! It is the goal of How 2 Love Our Cops to have a representative in every state of the union. The role our State Liaisons hold is to bring our resources, programs, events, and connection to a vast support system to areas we can’t touch personally from the west coast. They are our eyes and ears as well, taking note of the unique needs and dynamics of each state.
Our Indiana State Liaison, Jennifer Lanzen, has created a Law Enforcement Spouse Conference in northern Indiana that will be filled with encouragement and support for Law Enforcement spouses. She will speak at the ICPC (International Conference of Police Chaplains) this July, and will represent H2LOC as an exhibitor.
Check out our website to meet our awesome state liaisons like Jennifer and read about their diverse skills!
IACP Safety and Wellness Conference
March 11-13
Anaheim, CA
Improving officer safety and wellness enhances the health and effectiveness of officers, as well as the safety of the community. This conference is for law enforcement professionals to learn from experts in the field about resources and best practices when developing comprehensive officer safety and wellness strategies. Participants will learn about building resilience, financial wellness, injury prevention, peer support programs, physical fitness, proper nutrition, sleep deprivation, stress, mindfulness, suicide prevention, and more.
H2LOC has been selected to present at this prestigious conference. Victoria Newman, Janine D’Agostini, and Lorie Osborne will present "Supporting Families From the Start", which will educate departments on why and how to support families through education, peer support, and programs.
Click HERE to learn more about this conference and IACP!
Barrels & Badges Fundraiser |
Barrels & Badges was a five star event held at the beautiful D'Agostini Winery in Plymouth, CA. Five current and past sheriffs of El Dorado and Amador counties spoke on the law enforcement family, improvements in wellness for law enforcement, and collaboration of agencies and organizations to support law enforcement. Many of the area representatives and senators were present to support the work of H2LOC and Thrive 10-35, a local spouse group who've done much work in the community, and whom we have partnered with in recent years. Just two weeks later, our story was featured in the El Dorado Lifestyle magazine. We look forward to continued partnerships in the future to assist officers and their families!
BOOTS 4 BLUE Fundraiser |
This year's event was held at the Hillenbrand Farmhaus Brewery in Newcastle, CA. This wonderful evening included a greeting from Sheriff Wayne Woo of the Placer County Sheriff's Office, a surprise visit from their helicopter crew, and attendance of their top management team. We took a solemn moment reflecting upon and honoring several area officers that gave their lives for our communities, led by Lieutenant Frank Newman of the California Highway Patrol. Attendees heard first hand accounts of the work How 2 Love Our Cops does to support law enforcement families, and enjoyed encouragement from former PCSO Sheriff Ed Bonner. The event was sponsored by the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs' Association and Parris Law Firm. Stay tuned for this year's coming fundraisers!
Missed this wonderful event but still would like to support H2LOC? CLICK HERE!
Podcast Interview on TheSquadroom.net with Victoria Newman
Listen to this podcast from TheSquadroom.net where Victoria gave her first hand account of the early years of being married to Chief Brent Newman. She shares about being ready for a divorce and preparing to leave, but then why she stuck with the marriage and the payoffs that has brought. You don’t want to miss this!
Mt. Democrat Article from October 4, 2021
Roberta Long of the Mountain Democrat starts the article with this testimonial: “When I put this guidebook on the coffee table preparing to review it, my husband picked it up and didn’t put it down for 20 minutes. “I had no idea,” he said. “I never thought about it,” referring to the need to support families of men and women in law enforcement. “This guidebook is incredible.”
KCRA TV News Sacramento-Special Interview with Deputy Scott Brown
Being vulnerable and sharing a painful experience is not easy. But that’s exactly what Sacramento County Sheriff's Deputy Scott Brown is committed to doing. Deputy Brown survived a gun battle with convicted cop killer Luis Bracamontes five years ago, but his partner Deputy Danny Oliver was killed. Deputy Brown admits the pain of losing his friend and partner never goes away. For many years, Brown questioned why he survived and his partner did not. But now, he believes he was spared to share his testimony with other law enforcement officers silently suffering through the trauma the job can often cause.
Senate Unanimously Passes Grassley-Gillibrand Bill to Aid Officers Disabled in Line of Duty
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today unanimously passed legislation authored by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) to improve access to assistance for first responders permanently disabled in the line of duty. The Protecting America’s First Responders Act establishes guidelines for determining eligibility for federal benefit under the Public Safety Officers Benefits (PSOB) program and provides the Justice Department with new tools to more uniformly and efficiently adjudicate benefit claims.
Wife Of Injured Billings Police Officer Takes Fight For Injured Officers To Our Nation’s Capital
The silvery scars that run up and down Ladd Paulson’s legs serve as a faint reminder of the not one but two near-fatal motorcycle crashes he suffered while on the job as a Billings police officer.
The first happened in 2002 while he was on his police motorcycle following up on suspicious activity. Even with his lights on and siren blaring, a car T-boned him at 50 miles an hour. The impact threw him into a nearby ditch and caused a brain injury, broken ribs, a fractured skull and kidney, a crushed leg, collapsed lung, perforated diaphragm and — the most critical — a transected aorta.