Who We Are

Serving Your Community

GOD Bless Our Peacemakers

Our Vision

Our vision is to remove the stigma associated with an officer’s decision to keep his/her emotions inside for fear of retribution and/or retaliatory action if his/her personal information, feelings and state of mind is revealed to his/her agency.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to make available our resource on an international level so that officers from all law enforcement branches (city. state, federal) have a resource and outlet that they can turn to in times of need. We firmly believe that maintaining ones anonymity and confidentiality are essential in providing an environment for officers to reach out for help. CopLine volunteer force will conduct ourselves in a manner with the highest level of honor and integrity.

Our Goal

To help understand how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can affect a person and their loved ones. To make sure no officer is ever alone when dealing with emotionally charged issues like divorce, depression, alcoholism and domestic violence. By removing both the stigma of reaching out for help and providing a CONFIDENTIAL lifeline will help achieve CopLine’s goal in decreasing suicide with-in the law enforcement community.

Copline is the first INTERNATIONAL law enforcement officers' hotline that is manned by retired law enforcement officers. Retired law enforcement officers are trained in active listening and bring the knowledge and understanding of the many psychosocial stressors that officers go through both on and off the job. Active/Retired officers and/or their families can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and be assured that there is a trained retired officer on the other end of the line whether the caller is calling while on duty or off. The line is strictly confidential, the caller can remain anonymous and there is no fear of punitive repercussions from initiating the call.

CORE VALUES

We are dedicated to our callers and “Cops understand Cops” is not just a catch phrase. Our listeners have been exposed to the rigors of the Law Enforcement profession and our volunteers may have experienced similar situations involving stress, cumulative trauma and PTSD. It is because of this understanding that we want to answer every officer’s call.

Volunteering on a hotline is rewarding and our folks are our most important commodity. We empower our volunteers to fulfill their responsibilities with knowledge, training and appropriate discretion. We encourage our folks to submit ideas, we listen to their suggestions and we help them develop to their maximum potential. We believe in treating all officers with respect and dignity by showing a sincere level of concern and empathy. By demonstrating respect for others, we gain respect and support for our overall mission. We will strive to achieve the highest level of quality in all aspects of our volunteer duties. We can never be satisfied with the status quo so we must aim for continuous improvement, support creativity and dedicate ourselves to proactively seeking new and better ways to serve our callers.

COPLINE offers a CONFIDENTIAL 24-hour hotline answered by retired law enforcement officers who have gone through a strenuous vetting and training process to become an active listener. Copline peer listeners provide assistance with the successful management of various psychosocial stressors that impact a significant number of law enforcement officers and their families. Should the caller need further assistance the peer listener has access to vetted clinical referrals to therapists and programs throughout our callers regions to further assist with ongoing stressors.

THE FACTS

Law Enforcement research shows:

Avoidance of non-police persons by police may affect the level of needed support during a psychological crises because it interferes with establishing a helping network.
- Violanti et al (2018)

PTSD and increased alcohol use led to a tenfold increased risk of suicidal ideation.
- Violent, Charles, et al (2008)

83% of suicides appeared to be related to personal problems
- O’Hara, Violanti, Levenson & Clark ( 2013)

13% of suicides were work associated problems
- O’Hara, Violanti, Levenson & Clark (2013)

11% were military veterans
- O’Hara, Violanti, Levenson & Clark (2013)

Multiple studies showed PTSD and suicidality along with meditating factors such as depression are contributing factors to suicide.
- Spinaris (2016) Spinaris, Denhof & Kellaway (2012)

PTSD and alcohol use was studied in a sample of International police personnel and concluded that traumatic incidents, coping, and stressors interacted significantly with drinking.
- Menard & Arter (2013)

History of childhood sexual abuse prior to the job plays a significant role in substance abuse & suicidal ideation.
- Samuels (2017), Violanti & Samuels (2007)

Confidentiality

Copline firmly believes that maintaining your anonymity and confidentiality are essential. Thus, your privacy is at the core of what we do as Copline active listeners. If you are in crisis, we will listen and support you but we will NOT notify any other party unless you provide explicit consent.

Target Audience

Copline is the first INTERNATIONAL law enforcement officers hotline that is manned by retired law enforcement officers. The highest suicide rates in law enforcement are in rural areas in deep undercover operations. The officers are isolated from the ones they love and take on a persona that is needed to survive in the element they are working in. It is imperative that the officers feel there is a safe place to call and get someone who can understand what they are going through. Many officers do not see the changes in their own personalities over time; it is the ones closest to the officer. Our hotline will also be a safe place for spouses, significant others and children to call and speak with someone that can help them understand.

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