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Cops helping Cops will be joined by the crew of America’s Most Wanted next month and will be working toward helping Sgt. Justin Vitrano get back into his home. Sgt. Vitrano was found by Cops Helping Cops during their December trip and found that the Officer was living in substandard conditions. More details to Follow

This video is of a NOPD Officer current living conditions.

This officer is sleeping in a home destroyed by Hurricane Katrina 2 1/2 years after the storm.

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Cops Helping Cops
C/O Undersheriff David Fowler
2805 – 135th Avenue
Hersey, MI 49639
United States

Cops helping Cops took another step in it’s goal to help all Emergency Service Workers by announcing that it will be taking on it’s first NOFD Officers home.  CHC thought that this was now the right time to make the switch over.  What made the decision even more of a good idea, was the fact that CHC announced last month that the trip would be a Firefighter’s Only trip.  During the trip, the group of 31 Firefighters would split into two as they took on an NOPD Officers home as well.  CHC at this time is still interviewing members of the NOFD and the home will be chosen over the next two days

Cops helping Cops announces that the upcoming trip in December will have a new twist.  The trip will consist of Firefighters Only.  The idea came when a member of the Vancouver Fire Service contacted Cops Helping Cops and a suggestion was made.  CHC was told that there was no shortage of firefighters who wanted to sign up.  The next day, there were 12 applications received for the trip.

Cops helping Cops spoke with members of the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation and received approval for three more trips. Now volunteers can sign up for anyone of the trips which are slated for: September 22nd – 30th, November 10th – 18th, and December 10th – 18th.

Members of Cops Helping Cops are looking forward to this challenge as it will help that many more people enjoy their first holiday back in their home since the storm. Over the next few days volunteers who have signed up will be interviewed. Next comes the process of qualifying the home that shall be done on each of the trip. More information to be announced

Cops helping Cops returned from New Orleans a week ago and was shocked to learn just how much NOPD Officers are being taken advantage of. On our last few trips the members of CHC have been hearing stories of Police Officers losing money to contractors who were charging 4 – 10 times the going rate for a similar job elsewhere. However, on this last trip, we were astounded to hear of something far worse plaguing the NOPD. Contractors taking off with the Officers money and doing NOTHING!!!

Officers that have lost everything taking out a loan or taking their entire savings and trying to rebuild their lives from scratch and giving money to contractors only to have the contractor up and take off with the last of what the had to start again. We had one Officer have a contractor take off with $92,000. Another Officer over $60,000. It was very heartbreaking to hear this has been going on.

Cops Helping Cops sat down with Assistant Superintendent Marlon Defillo at a dinner given by the NYC PBA. During that dinner we discussed with Assistant Superintendent DeFillo what had been going on with some of his officers. Defillo vowed to follow up with the officers and was planning a meeting between himself, the officers, and the District Attorney to address the situation and have charges brought up on the contractors.

The next Officer Cops Helping Cops came to help, has been through some rough times. Captain Clarence Herbert of the NOPD Mounted Unit has seen a lot of action over the last few years. “BEAR”, as his friends call him, has been shot, hit while on his motorcycle on duty and has also even had a piece of scum try to assassinate him. This, on top of losing his Mom to Hurricane Katrina.

Dave Fowler met Bear and couldn’t believe that a guy could still be the kind, gentle soul he was after so much had happen to him. Dave stated that Bear was one of the nicest Officers they had met yet. The Officers on the trip were not only equally as fond of Bear for who he was, but loved the home cooked Gumbo and Jambalaya.

Cops helping Cops returned a few days ago from helping eight more Officers. CHC offered everything from mental health assistance to getting each of the officers closer to having their families returning home. As the team arrived it seemed like an impossible task. But days were long from 7am – 6pm and everyone pitched together.

The homes each had their own difficulty. One of the homes had 12+ ceilings. Electrical, Insulating and Sheet rocking seemed almost impossible at first with what we had to work with. However, we had some very creative people and all went very well.

Once again, our entire team was invited over Chief Bryson’s home where he and his wife cooked us an amazing meal. Everyone there was completely stuffed and had a wonderful time.

Cops Helping Cops would like to thank Chief Bryson, and his family, for opening their home and making us feel welcome. Unfortunately, we would also like to blame the Chief for having to go out an purchase larger clothes as everyone thought they were 10 pounds heavier than when they arrived!!!

Cops helping Cops has set its next date in motion to head back to New Orleans. Starting January 6th, members and volunteers will head back down to in an effort to make the N.O.P.D. stronger by helping out its officers. The goal is to complete at least three homes and get three families back into their home.

Right now, Cops Helping Cops has enough volunteers to get 1.5 homes done and are hoping to get enough to complete all three. Many Officers from prior trips are also working on returning.

Hurricane Katrina aftermath, New Orleans LA. With temperatures exceeding 100° with 100% humidity, dehydration was a big safety issue. Carrying bottled water not only took up precious room on boats, but soon warmed from the sun beating down on the plastic bottles. Enter Camelbak.

Camelbak’s hydration packs became a valuable asset. We could now store large amounts of water and as we entered buildings and take it with us while keeping our hands free for carrying weapons or tools. Having their packs also made supplying water to victims immediate instead of waiting till we returned to the boat. Since the packs also allow for storage, we could also carry medical supplies as well.

Camelbak hydration packs also offer “bite covers” which worked perfectly for keeping foreign matter and debris off the bite tube you stuck in your mouth. This was especially important when going into buildings. “We were climbing into windows and entering buildings that were covered in film. Everything was just nasty. It would be way over 100° and so humid…..It was like stepping into a warm bath tub. After a few minutes you were looking for something to drink and it was so nice to pull that cover off and take a fresh slip of water.”

Cops helping Cops is happy to report that our first trip was a success. We arrived in New Orleans with members of the FDNY, NYPD, Michigan Sheriffs Office, Search and Rescue personnel and Reed City, MI FD. For the next few days we worked together as a team in the heat, with bugs, and over coming interesting obstacles and getting our first N.O.P.D. Officer back in his home. For all that went, It was an uplifting experience. For a Police Department, It let them know that they weren’t alone.

Cops Helping Cops also got a few surprises. The first was a media blitz. It seems the media enjoyed the fact that people were working on Labor Day, when others were at rest. So we had every major news network visiting us. Next, we enjoyed meeting other members of the Police Department. We were cooked authentic Louisiana meals (which we really enjoyed) and had the pleasure of meeting Officers, Captains, Chiefs and the Superintendent (Commissioner) of the N.O.P.D. We even had the pleasure of meeting Sir Earl Toon of Kool and the Gang. Nice guy.

Cops Helping Cops would like to Thank all the people that went down and Helped.

Cops helping Cops begins construction of the first homes on August 27, 2006. With members of the NYPD, FDNY, and Michigan Sheriffs Office, volunteers will be heading down on Sunday to start the first of many homes. Cops Helping Cops will be trying to complete a home in eight days. They have been lucky enough to have help from many different sources. Companies, Foundations, Police Officers, Firefighters and individuals are all stepping up to the plate.

It will be a huge job. However the payoff will be much larger. All of us going down know not only how important it is to help each other out in a time of need, but how amazing it will be to tell someone they can bring their family home.

Cops helping Cops met with Col. Terry Ebbert, of the Office of Homeland Security for Louisiana, and Chief John Bryson, of the New Orleans Police department, on Friday. “They were very interested in what we had to say and I felt that it went very well” said Chris Lyons of Cops Helping Cops. Undersheriff Dave Fowler, also of Cops Helping Cops said that he also thought the meeting was very successful.

After the meeting, It was decided that Chris would stay behind and meet with the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation on Monday. “I wish I could be there, but I know Chris will do fine” said Dave. Undersheriff Fowler had to return to duty on Monday back up in Michigan.

The New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, founded in 1995, is designed to support the operations and capacities of the New Orleans Police Department. One of the programs is has is to helps Police Officers get financing for their homes. The Foundation also helps fund organizations that help Officers get back into those homes.

Christopher Lyons, of Cops helping Cops, met with Robert Stellingworth of the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation on Monday along with Chief Bryson. The meeting lasted a few hours, but when the meeting was finished, a deal had been made. Thanks to everyone, the first set of homes to be rebuilt is now slated to begin. The meeting was not without difficulty. The Officers of the N.O.P.D have been promised alot. However, they have received very little help and many promises had been broken. That is until now. Cops Helping Cops is determined to make this succeed. The first set of homes are slated to begin August 27th, 2006. Two days before the one year anniversary of when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, changing it forever. With the help of Cops Helping Cops, these officers will soon be home with their families.

Cops helping Cops, trying to move forward with the New Orleans project, has requested a meeting with Mayor Nagin. So far they have a meeting with the Deputy MAyor, the Chief of Police and the head of Homeland Security. CHC is also working on trying to have a sit down with Louisiana’s governor, Kathleen Blanco.

“I think it would be great if the governing body of Louisiana got behind its Law Enforcement personnel and other emergency service workers.” a spokesman for Cops Helping Cops said. “I only hope they’ll listen and help.”

Camelbak, after seeing the continued importance of what Cops Helping Cops was doing, decided to step up and donate another 50 packs. Through the generosity of the company, and the kindness of an employee named Heather Detrick , building homes for New Orleans Police Officers got a little easier.

“Now we have the same assets to help people once again, thanks to Camelbak” a Cops Helping Cops spokesman said. “They have become a valuable tool in our cause.”

After seeing the good that the Osceola County Sheriffs’ Office and members of Cops Helping Cops team had done during hurricane Katrina and Rita, they decided to give them their backing. “Having the approval of the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association will help distinguish Cops Helping Cops from other charities” a spokesman from Cops Helping Cops said. “It also lets law enforcement personnel know that the brotherhood lives and we will be there for them.

After seeing the good that the Osceola County Sheriffs’ Office and members of Cops Helping Cops team had done during hurricane Katrina and Rita, they decided to give them their backing. “Having the approval of the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association will help distinguish Cops Helping Cops from other charities” a spokesman from Cops Helping Cops said. “It also lets law enforcement personnel know that the brotherhood lives and we will be there for them.

A cold day in NY towards the end of February. What was supposed to be just a simple phone call “Hello” down to an N.O.P.D Officer, turned out to be something much more. The conversation changed because of one question…”By the way, is there anything you need?” Silence. Then words blurted out in a sad tone…”Toilet Paper…we don’t even have toilet paper.” How could this be?

After an enlightening phone call, Christopher Lyons contacted Undersheriff Fowler and explained the situation. “They don’t even have basic necessities like paper towels, soap and toilet paper” Chris told Fowler. According to the Officer, Chris was told that “it was worse now, then it was after Katrina.” “Huh?” “You were under 15 feet of water after Katrina, how could it be worse?” Undersheriff Fowler and Chris Lyons agreed if this was true, something needed to be done. So, deciding they needed to see the devastation first hand, they both headed back to New Orleans.

“I was shocked” said Chris. “I could NOT believe what I saw. I worked down at the WTC and eight months later, you saw a difference. Here, people are living in filth and mold. We live in the United States of America and these are Police Officers. This should NOT be”

Undersheriff Fowler felt the same way Chris did. “I’ve seen a lot in my 28 years of law enforcement, but this takes the cake. I can’t believe our fellow law enforcement brothers and sisters are living this way.”

fter Hurricane Katrina Destroyed the Gulf Region, there was a National call for help put out by the Sheriffs’ Association. Answering that call without delay, was the Osceola County Sheriffs’ Office. The Sheriffs’ stepped forward putting their professional and personal lives on hold and headed South. The teams members:

James Crawford – Sheriff

David Fowler – Undersheriff

Ryan Sutton – SWAT

Jim Anderlhore (Aka: Jimmy Joe Bob) – Criminal Justice Instructor

Norman St. Andrews – Marine specialist and crackerjack mechanic

They were soon contacted by Christopher Lyons, working in conjunction with the OKC Search and Rescue, who was driving from NY, but was now in the gulf region. Christopher was headed down south into New Orleans. After being one of the first to arrive and make contact with the military, Christopher called Undersheriff Fowler and advised his team to head there, for that’s where they were needed. Members, of what was to be Cops Helping Cops, were now entering New Orleans. The OKC Chickasaw Nation SAR team, not far behind, met there as well. The teams linked up with the 45th Infantry Brigade under the command of General Derring.

Living at night in a Wal-Mart parking lot where the temperatures neared 100 degrees, they slept in tents being eaten by fire ants and chiggers. During the day, they headed out where the temperatures were hotter, especially when entering homes and attics where the temperatures were over 150 degrees and the roofs neared 200! Combine those temperatures with very high humidity, and you can see why not everyone is cut out for doing Search and Rescue.

Barring all obstacles, 87 people were rescued. However, the teams had decided that had they moved in BEFORE the storm, they would have been much more effective. The foundation of Cops helping Cops was now being formed.

Written by Christopher Lyons on 9/11 after a rescue. Chris decides that it would be fitting to make it part of what Cops Helping cops is all about

As the Osceola County Sheriffs’ Office got prepared for their trip down to the Gulf region, they called Norm’s Sport and Marine to see if their new boat was ready to go. Undersheriff Fowler, recognizing that they might also need a really good boat mechanic asked Norm to join them. Norman St. Andrews didn’t need to be asked twice.

Taking a boat right off the showroom floor, Norm prepped a second boat. This amazing gesture, unbeknownst to Norm at the time, would save the lives of many victims. Norm and his crew worked through the night and had both boats ready to go in less than 24 hours.

After driving for two days and arriving in New Orleans, Norm was already being put to use within his first few minutes. One of the boats was no longer operational and it looked like the next day was going to be with one with a boat short. Not while Mr. St. Andrews was around. Once again Norm stepped up and worked through the night.

“I couldn’t believe it” said Christopher Lyons. “Here I’m meeting this guy for the first time, he introduces himself and says that my request has been completed. I was so tired, it took me a minute to realize what he was talking about. We went to bed with one of the boats in bad shape. I couldn’t believe Norman had fixed this this boat literally overnight”

Thanks to Norm St. Andrews many lives were saved. Cops Helping Cops would like to recognize Norm and Norm’s Sport and Marine, for stepping up when others may have backed away. Norm not only made sure that all boats were seaworthy all the time, but was out there everyday helping others

Good Job Norman St. Andrews!!! – Owner of Norm’s Sport and Marine