Families and Officers Support
The police community is often referred to as a family. And the prime source of support for officers who are experiencing PTSD symptoms or having any crisis difficulty is the family—their spouses, friends, and fellow police officers.
Beside the Badge (BTB)
A low-cost, bimonthly newsletter, BTB encourages support and fellowship among officers, their families and friends. It’s packed full of stories, columns, counseling information and even material for young readers. This newsletter is hardcopy only and not a website.
Write: Beside The Badge Newsletter, P.O. Box 304, Tecumseh, MI 49286-0304. Call toll-free: 888-536-3267.
Loveacop
Police spouses often feel they don’t belong in either civilian or police societies. Isolated and alone, they need somewhere to share their feelings. Lovacop provides a forum for spouses of current, former and retired law enforcement officers to share secrets of coping and to develop new friendships.
Go to: http://www.loveacop.org.
Police Families
The purpose of the Police Families website is to provide information and referral for spouses, children and parents of police officers. The site features chatrooms, guest psychologists, games and activities for children, and material for departments wishing to extend services to police families.
Dr. Ellen Kirschman, author of I Love A Cop, What Police Families Need To Know, and Dr. Lorraine Greene, Manager of Police Counseling for the Nashville/Davidson County Metro-politan Police Department, created the website in coordination with a national advisory group of police families, law enforcement organizations and police psychologists.
Go to: http://www.policefamilies.com.
Police Wives
PoliceWives.org is an online forum that offers support and encouragement to the spouses of police officers.
Go to: http://www.policewives.org.
Wives Behind the Badge (WBTB)
WBTB is a national organization dedicated to offering support and resources to law enforcement wives, families and significant others such as fiancés and life partners, as well as directly to police officers and their departments. Their website offers forums,
a gift shop, and a program to send condolence cards to the wives of fallen officers.
Go to: www.wivesbehindthebadge.org. Write: WBTB, PO Box 5472, Orange, CA 92863.