By Nancy Edwards
Fishers has a lot in common with Newtown, Conn. Both towns have close-knit communities; a typical day’s work for the police officers may involve petty theft, domestic abuse or assisting a person who has just had a heart attack.
Only one of these towns, however, has ever experienced a mass school shooting.
“The bond between our schools and our officers is special, and a tragedy like Sandy Hook Elementary would be devastating to our officers,” Lori Spillane, attorney and vice president of the Fishers Police Foundation, said. “All police officers are trained to respond to crisis and enter dangerous situations, but the after effects of such an incident can be overwhelming to any department.”
The Fishers Police Dept. and Fishers Police Foundation have teamed up to raise money for the officers who were called to help the 26 victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
“The trauma experienced by some police officers after a critical incident such as what occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary is very similar to that in war … they are extensively trained to assess and respond to danger, but the serious impact of serious death, particularly the brutal, senseless murder of children with high-powered rifles can have varying degrees on different officers,” Spillane said.
Since the tragedy, 13 officers who were called to the scene have experienced varying degrees of emotional and mental distress; some need counseling. Others are currently on leave. Due to police budgets being stretched thin, officers need to use all their sick and vacation time first. After that, they will worry about paying their bills.
Those interested in making a donation to assist the Newtown officers can make checks payable to the Fishers Police Foundation, Inc., a 501(c) (3) nonprofit corporation; donations may be tax-deductible. Donations should be mailed to: The Fishers Police Foundation, 4 Municipal Drive, Fishers, IN 46038. Another option is to bring donations to the Fishers Police Dept. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.