Dear COBA Members/Retirees;

In our end of the Criminal Justice System we don't see a lot of good.

The majority of the public, and certainly most political and administrative leaders doesn't understand or appreciate the stresses that we are forced to endure in this incredibly essential Public Safety service that we provide for them. The only ones who truly understand what we do and who we are, is those of us in this profession ourselves.

Most importantly, the first ones who come to our aid when we are in desperate need are other Correction Officers and our close family and friends.

This past week we started a GoFundMe Campaign to help raise funds for one our own Officers who is in a desperate situation with her gravely ill son.

We didn't know what to expect in these tough times, during this pandemic, the never ending staffing issues we're enduring and while living in a world with such polarizing negativity and division. Not just here but everywhere on and off this job.

What immediately followed was nothing less than inspiring. YOU came out in droves to answer the call for one of our own who is in need of something positive in such a terrible situation. YOU came together as a family to help someone without regard to anything other than that they needed help and you were there to provide it. In a little over a day, our goal of raising twenty five thousand dollars was not only reached but surpassed. As of this writing we are now over 30K and the only reason this campaign went so viral is because you actually give a damn about your fellow Officer and didn't just look at the story and say "oh that's too bad" then move onto something else. YOU reached out and did your part to help. This is the true meaning of family. This is the true meaning of a "UNION" !!!

Trust me, I know all too well the negativity that comes with a job in Law Enforcement, especially ours in Corrections. We hear it every day. And we all know the statistics of how this job effects us in our personal lives. You know you hear it every day too. How this sucks, that sucks, the Union sucks, the County sucks, my boss sucks. It's ingrained here.

But you know what else is ingrained here? Whether you want to admit it or not, we are a family. And we help each other when we're hurting and dealing with life's harsh realities. YOU all did that these last few days and you do it every time one of us is hurting and in need for real help.

At times like this, I couldn't be more proud to be the President of this UNION. This FAMILY. Representing some of the most caring, selfless people who will run to the aid of a brother/sister Officer or their family when they need it most.

Thank you and don't ever lose that connection to each other.

We Should Always Be Together In Unity;

Brian Sullivan, COBA President