Jan 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 1

daughters grow to teenagers. I
certainly wasn’t ready to leave
my family, but I knew Dave had
a 3-year-old daughter and a
newborn son and deserved a life
with them.
Fortunately, after about a year
I was introduced to an organization
called Concerns of Police
Survivors. They offer many
services for family members
and co-workers of fallen law
enforcement officers. I attended
a co-worker’s retreat, where
I was with others from across
the country that have experienced
similar incidents. They
provide counseling and many
other resources to help rebuild
the shattered lives of co-workers
and family members who
have lost loved ones in the line
of duty. The retreats helped me
tremendously and the following
year I was able to encourage six
additional co-workers to attend.
My wife and I still attend
the Co-workers couple’s retreat.
This has also helped with mending
our relationship that was
strained due to the effects of the
trauma.
Trauma affects everyone so
differently. I don’t feel that there
is a single given roadmap for everyone
in approaching it. There
are many organizations and
counselors that are experienced
in dealing with first responders
experiencing traumatic events.
I feel that it is important to get
those suffering in silence from
trauma to utilize one of those
outlets. Never give up on trying
to get your family members
or co-workers to seek help for
themselves. Some people in my
life never gave up on me and I
know I am much better off today
for getting the help that was
available to me. I have a constant
reminder from that day. My injury
from the events left me with
permanent nerve damage and
pain, both physically and emotionally.
I don’t feel you can ever
fully recover from an incident
like this. However, I do feel like
you can learn to smile, love, and
have fun in your life again. It just
takes time and the right outlets
to continue the healing. I will
never forget the sacrifices that
Dave made that day and I try
to live a life that would make
him proud to be my friend and
honor his legacy”. -Matt Hanlin
Retired, Clay County Sheriff’s
Office For more information
on the wonderful services and
resources offered by Concerns
of Police Survivors, please visit
Concerns of Police Survivors
(C.O.P.S.)
The Blues - January ‘24 129