Citizen-funded Charity Provides First-aid Kits to Police Departments
(San Ramon, CA – May 30, 2019) – Cops Direct, a unique, citizen-funded police charity is issuing a nationwide call for police departments in need to receive, at no cost, a potentially life-saving item that will serve both officers and civilians.
The item, called Downed Officer Kits or DOK’s, is a specialized first-aid kit that can be worn by officers to quickly and effectively render aid until medical personnel arrive. As police officers are so frequently the first on the scene, these kits can be utilized during the “Golden Hour,” the first sixty-minutes following a traumatic incident when treatment offers the best chance for survival.
The DOK’s are provided via a partnership with Tactical Medical Solutions, a global leading developer and manufacturer of pre-hospital medical gear for the tactical and civilian world.
Cops Direct is the sister organization of the long-established and successful military charity Troops Direct, the only real-time supply provider to the military in the nation. Forward-deployed troops, most commonly Special Forces, request desperately needed items such as tourniquets, stretchers, cold weather gear and special IED marking chalk and Troops Direct delivers at no cost, typically in eight days or less, anywhere in the world. Since its inception, Troops Direct has serviced more than 100,000 troops in 35 countries.
Founded and headed by civilian Aaron Negherbon, both organizations are dedicated to filling the gap created by budget or logistic challenges as a way of protecting those who protect others. Each rely on citizen contributions and operate with just 1% of donations going to administrative costs.
“Having learned about the budget realities facing so many police departments throughout the nation, where hard decisions need to be made, the idea that officers and citizens may not have access to immediate first-aid was unacceptable to us,” said Negherbon. “With the successful model we’ve established with Troops Direct, we knew we were in a unique position to help. And as it is with the troops, the outpouring of support from citizens to aid police officers has been extraordinary.”
Cops Direct provided 350 DOK’s to five departments over the past six weeks and anticipates doubling that amount in June.
“Two of the key reasons our organizations succeed is expediency and a lack of overhead,” said Negherbon. “When a concerned citizen makes a donation they know that money is going directly to its stated goal. And when a department makes a DOK request they know it will quickly arrive. It’s just that simple.”
While some may view the police through a particular prism, Negherbon is quick to point out that Cops Direct works from an apolitical platform. “This effort has no time for “pro” or “anti” police rhetoric. This is about saving lives and that’s something we can all agree with. Location, gender, color and occupation are irrelevant. There’s a need and there’s a solution. It starts and ends there."
For more information, or to donate to Cops Direct, please visit www.copsdirect.org
For Police Departments to request DOK’S, please contact [email protected]
