From Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.)
Andrew Esparza chose to pursue a business and marketing degree when he left for college. His parents, Rafael and Christina, were secretly relieved to know he wasn’t going to be a firefighter or police officer like his two older brothers; but they were not surprised on the day Andrew came home from college and said he needed to change professions. After graduation, Andrew became a police officer for the Irving (TX) Police Department, where his brother was already a SWAT Team member
On April 13, 2007, tornadoes plagued the Dallas, Texas, area and heavy rains flooded the streets. When Officer Andrew Esparza was responding to a call for assistance at an accident scene, he hit a huge pool of water; the cruiser hydroplaned and slammed into a street light, killing the 26-year-old officer. Officer Esparza had only served two short years with the department. Officer Esparza was survived by his parents, sister and two brothers. The entire family was devastated, as is the case with any law enforcement family when their officer is unexpectedly killed in the line of duty.
In October 2007, the family’s liaison officer with the department visited Christina and Rafael and encouraged them to consider attending a Parents Retreat sponsored by Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.). The officer told them about the organization, the weekend retreat, and said it could be what they needed to deal with their intense grief.
“Although it was only 6 months after Andrew’s death, it was the best thing we could have done for ourselves,” said Christina.
“I found other fathers at the retreat who thought that they needed to be strong, just like I did. But they let me know quickly that I needed to grieve, too,” said Rafael.
They returned home with a greater understanding of grief and realized they could make something positive happen from their tragedy. They founded the Andrew Esparza Foundation, with the mission of providing educational scholarships to children. “Andy believed that education was important and we want a college education to become a reality for some deserving children,” said Christina.
In May 2008, the Esparzas attended National Police Week to honor their son and find out more about this amazing organization called C.O.P.S. In 2009, they returned to National Police Week to receive support; but this time they also opened their arms to the new surviving parents and gave them the same type of support that was given to them the year before. That is what the C.O.P.S. organization is based upon strong peer support… survivors helping another survivor. The organization was founded on the belief that peer support can help people through the darkest days of their lives. The Esparzas have experienced that support and are now supporting others.
To learn more about C.O.P.S. and the support programs for law enforcement survivors, visit www.nationalcops.org