A new addition to the Living with the Sacrifice column, honorable mentions, serves as a way to relate the inspirational stories I receive through your emails and recognize those who are supporting injured and disabled officers. Honorable mentions go out to:
The Minnesota Association for Injured Peace Officers (MAIPO.) Check out their new website. Jim Crawford and team did a fanastic job creating this site. All 50 states need a website like this to assist injured and disabled officers and provide needed information and resources. Good job, Jim!
Former Chicago Officer Jim Mullen, who is paralyzed from the neck down and remains permanently on a respirator after a gunman shot him, has announced his candidacy for city council. His way to continue to serve and protect his city. Good luck, Jim!
The Valor Project, a brainchild of Mayo Clinic Doctor and tactical medic, Matthew Stajnkrycer. VALOR stands for Violence Against Law Officer Research. Stajnkrycer, who is also associated with the Force Science Research Center, is financing the project out of his own pocket. He seeks to compile a database on how officers are injured in an effort to learn from their experiences. Stajnkrycer wants to analyze the data to see what type of injuries are most likely to occur on duty. He will use the data to develop medical training for law enforcement officers so they can treat themselves and others while awaiting the arrival of an ambulance. His website invites officers to fill out a confidential survey, provide video of the incident if possible, and share after action reports. More information on the Valor Project can be found here as well as here.
Please email me with your stories or nominations for an Honorable Mention in the Living with the Sacrifice column. Qualifications for an honorable mention include:
1.) Any activity by an officer, department, agency, citizen, or family member that assists injured and disabled officers and/or their families
2.) An injured — currently or previously — or disabled officer who continues to protect and serve the community or their fellow injured and disabled officers
