All too often a police officer's death is a sudden loss of one's life.  Within seconds of the officers death, countless lives are affected and shattered.  Spouses, parents, siblings, children, grandparents, relatives, friends, co-workers, and significant others all share the effects.  All suffer a traumatic loss requiring special care and assistance to help deal with their loss and to learn to live with their suddenly changed circumstances.  Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc. (COPS) is a national, non-profit organization that has been the link to help surviving law enforcement families put the pieces of their lives together and move on beyond their pain and suffering.

The Massachusetts chapter of COPS was chartered in July 1995 and immediately began assisting the surviving families of officers killed in the line of duty in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.  In presenting the Massachusetts Charter, Mr. Ray Payne, the N.E. Region trustee, stated that "The MA chapter has been extremely interesting to follow.  This is one of the healthiest chapters that I've ever had the pleasure of working with."