$25,231 raised for family of slain Maricopa County deputy

DLEA thankful  for all the support shown for Coleman family at Wednesday's barbecue fundraiser.

PHOENIX— Deputies Law Enforcement Association (DLEA) President, Sean Pearce, reported that $25,231.47 was raised Wednesday at a Barbeque held at the PLEA Office to benefit the family of slain Maricopa County Deputy William (Bill) Coleman.  Deputy Coleman was slain by a gunman early Sunday responding to a call at an Anthem strip-mall. 

"On behalf of all the members of DLEA and all law enforcement, we are so appreciative of U.S. Foodservice for donating the majority of food for this benefit,” Pearce stated.  “We want to also thank PLEA for holding the BBQ at their office and PLEA and Chandler Law Enforcement Association members who helped staff this event.  Of course, the Maricopa County Sheriffs and Phoenix Police Explorers Post members worked tirelessly all day helping any way that they were asked. Most of all we want to thank the community and officers who attended this barbeque.  We ran out of food twice and PLEA picked up the tab so that all monies raised, every penny, went to Deputy Coleman’s family.  Without the overwhelming support from Valley media we would never have raised this amount of money."

“We were glad to be able to host this event at the PLEA Office,” Joe Clure, PLEA Board President remarked.  “Unfortunately, we have a lot of experience doing these events for our fallen members.”

MSNBC News reported Dec. 28 that “...For the second straight year, the number of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty rose sharply in 2011... 

Preliminary data compiled by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund showed that 173 federal, state and local officers were killed on the job in 2011, 13 percent more than the 153 who died in 2010 — and 42 percent more than the 122 officers who were killed in 2009.

The memorial fund, a nonprofit group that runs the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, attributed the steep rise to "drastic budget cuts" that "have put our officers at grave risk."

 

Donations are still being taken at the Deputy Coleman Memorial Fund at Desert Schools Federal Credit Union, Account #: 6000123586.  For additional media information only, please contact Bartholomeaux/PR, 602.824.8304.