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This year our focus for National Police Week is Officer Safety and Wellness (OSW). The goal is to keep law enforcement officers off the Memorial through daily morning workouts, a suicide prevention program, a special Destination Zero Cardiac Wellness Screening, and an OSW Product Showcase.

See the schedule, below, and join us for our virtual events, especially the Candlelight Vigil to be live-streamed on May 13. And be sure to watch for the launch of the 2021 National Police Week mobile app coming soon.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Sunday, May 9

5:00 p.m. | 2021 Destination Zero National Safety and Wellness Awards Announcement

Monday, May 10

Officer Safety and Wellness Product Showcase

8:00 a.m. | Wake Up, Work Out, Get Healthy

10:00 a.m. | Built for Blue with LEGO® Bricks Art Installation Unveiling

Tuesday, May 11

Officer Safety and Wellness Product Showcase

8:00 a.m. | Wake Up, Work Out, Get Healthy 

1:30 p.m. | SAFLEO Suicide Prevention Program 

Wednesday, May 12

Officer Safety and Wellness Product Showcase

8:00 a.m. | Wake Up, Work Out, Get Healthy 

10:00 a.m. | Hall of Remembrance 2021 Installation Unveiling

Thursday, May 13

Officer Safety and Wellness Product Showcase

8:00 a.m. | Wake Up, Work Out, Get Healthy 

9:00 a.m. | Destination Zero Cardiac Wellness Screening | Invitation Only

1:30 p.m. | Police Unity Tour Ceremony | Live Event 

8:00 p.m. | Virtual Candlelight Vigil

Friday, May 14

Officer Safety and Wellness Product Showcase

8:00 a.m. | Wake Up, Work Out, Get Healthy

9:00 a.m. | Destination Zero Cardiac Wellness Screening | Invitation Only

Note: All Times Eastern Time Zone

The 2021 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act program is a competitive grant program that provides funding to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement through the implementation of peer support, training, family resources, suicide prevention, and other promising practices for wellness programs.  The LEMHWA solicitation is open to all public governmental agencies, federally recognized Indian tribes, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, community groups, and faith-based organizations.  Up to $8 million is available for this program.

 Applications are due by June 3, 2021 at 7:59 PM EDT.  More information on the 2021 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act program is available at https://cops.usdoj.gov/lemhwa.

2021
VIRTUAL CANDLELIGHT VIGIL

SAVE THE DATE

Join us online as we pay tribute to the 394 men and women lost in the line of duty, whose names are now included with over 22,600 others on the Memorial.

Thursday, May 13, 2021
8:00 p.m. (EDT)

How to Watch:

LawMemorial.org/CV

Facebook.com/NLEOMF

YouTube.com/TheNLEOMF

BALEAF announced that it will offer 5 Marilyn Rosekind Memorial Scholarships in 2021. The program opens April 16 and recipients will be announced in June 2021.  Details and procedures are on the scholarship webpage, BALEAF Scholarship Program.

REPORT TO CONGRESS ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SUICIDE

The Executive Board of the Bay Area Law Enforcement Assistance Fund (BALEAF) reminds Bay Area Law Enforcement members that during these challenging times, many in law enforcement may be struggling with their physical health as well as their mental health. BALEAF is here to provide support to Bay Area Law Enforcement employees (both sworn and non-sworn) and their families in crisis. BALEAF wants to remind those who are suffering to reach out to us for assistance. BALEAF can provide assistance both financially and with referrals to counseling resources.  

BALEAF has a close working relationship with The West Coast Post-Trauma Retreat – First Responders Support Network (WCPR).  WCPR states, “The program is for first responders whose lives have been affected by their work experience.” WCPR’s goal is, “To help the first responders and retirees regain control over their lives and either return to work with a new perspective on stress and coping, move on with their lives if that is a more appropriate decision, or simply enjoy retirement.” 

“We encourage all in law enforcement who are suffering, to reach out to your department's Peer Support or to contact us. You are not alone and we are here to help.”

BALEAF is sharing the Press Release on the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, “Report to Congress on Law Enforcement Officer Suicide,” released on April 6, 2021.

Use this link to view the full Press Release.

The Executive Board of the Bay Area Law Enforcement Assistance Fund (BALEAF) announced that its awards of short-term financial assistance to Bay Area Law Enforcement officers and families now stands at $1,983,770 million dollars since its founding in 1999. The number of law enforcement agencies in the Bay Area represented by officers and their families receiving funds is 63. 

The Bay Area Law Enforcement Assistance Fund Board of Directors meets monthly to review and approve requests for financial assistance from officers and families.  As a unique nonprofit charity under the 501(c)(3) regulations, it uses 100% of public donations received to make these financial awards. Rated as one of America’s Best Charities, in addition to short-term funding, BALEAF also offers assistance to Bay Area law enforcement officers and families in areas such as grief counseling and psychological services, spiritual support and educational scholarships.  Visit the BALEAF website for additional information at baleaf.org.  

The Board of the Bay Area Law Enforcement Assistance Fund said goodbye to long-time Board Member Lt. Matt Bloesch, Fairfield PD. A plaque was presented to Matt by the Vice President in December 2020. Matt will be greatly missed. His contributions to BALEAF spanned a long time through assistance to officers and their families and to BALEAF and its events. You can view the press release.

Happy Chinese New Year 2021 is Friday, February 12th, 2021.  The Chinese New Year animal sign is Ox. Usually Chinese New Year festival period lasts for 16 days, starting from Chinese New Year's eve to the Lantern Festival. In 2021, it is from February 11 to February 26th.

The standard public holiday for (Mainland) Chinese is the 7 days from Chinese New Year's Eve to day 6 of the lunar calendar new year: February 11 – 17, 2021.

Weblinks:
From CNN: Chinese New Year Photo Gallery
   https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/11/world/gallery/lunar-new-year-2021-photos/index.html

From USA Today: Video, Lunar New Year 2021
    https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/nation/2021/02/12/lunar-new-year-welcome-year-ox/6735283002/

From CNN: Video, Lunar New Year, Staycation and Covid-19
     https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/lunar-new-year-2021-ox/index.html

From Google: Happy Lunar New Year
     https://www.google.com/doodles/lunar-new-year-2021-multiple-countries

Graphic image courtesy of China Highlights, accessed February 12, 2021, at https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/festivals/when-chinese-new-year.htm

IN MEMORIAM MARILYN ROSEKIND

Co-Founder Bay Area Law Enforcement Assistance Fund 1999; Elected as the First BALEAF President; President from 1999-2009; Surviving Widow; BALEAF Board of Directors, 1999-January 25, 2021

There are no words to describe the deep sorrow BALEAF feels at the loss of one of its greatest and most beloved members, Marilyn Rosekind.  Marilyn passed away just one day before her 90^th birthday.  Marilyn was a staunch supporter of BALEAF for its entire 22 years. In her own words:

“In 1958, my husband Barry Rosekind, a San Francisco Police Department motorcycle officer, was killed in the line of duty. Our sons were 3 1/2 and 2 years old at the time. A native San Franciscan (born and raised), I worked as a Legal Secretary in the City, and later as an Executive Secretary to the Chancellor and Board of Trustees of the San Mateo County Community College District. Learning that there is no immediate assistance for surviving families, in 1998 a survivor group was formed with the support of the Behavioral Science Unit of the San Francisco Police Department.  In November of 1999, BALEAF was born. After helping to establish BALEAF, I served as President for the first 10 years. BALEAF's mission and activities have always been close to my heart. It is an honor to serve law enforcement officers, their families, and survivors, and BALEAF's hope is to help them in life's most difficult times.”

Marilyn remained an active member in BALEAF even in her later years. She continued to actively serve on the Board of Directors, attended the BALEAF fundraising and commemorative events, served on various committees, she even attended monthly Zoom Board meetings, and always was one of the first to volunteer.

The family requests donations in Marilyn's honor be made to BALEAF.org.