As we continue to resound Hold the Line! day after day, witnessing our nation’s cops chronically withstand immense pressure from all sides, help comes from within, with the blue family launching support services for the brave men and women who forge to the frontlines and push back on those in society who hatch havoc, gum-up officer safety, and taunt cops’ psyches.
One such resource is the Light the Line mobile support unit, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization funded by citizens and merchants contributing donations, responding to scenes in support of law enforcement officers engaged in taxing situations, grossly outnumbered, and jeered with disrespect by those whose concept of law and order is severely lacking.
(Photo courtesy of the Light the Line Foundation.)
The motto of Light the Line is More Solutions = Less Diagnoses. They voluntarily cater to cops in several ways:
- CRITICAL INCIDENT ON-SCENE SUPPORT
- WORKSHOPS & RETREATS
- INNOVATIVE RESOURCES TO OPTIMIZE WELL-BEING
- SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO LIGHTEN WORK/HOME STRESSORS
The 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, is a prime cause-and-effect example, with Chicago’s Finest absorbing a slew of hostility and tangible danger at every turn.
Per a Fox News report, “Protesters outside the DNC Monday evening shouted at officers to go home. But they don’t have a choice, [retired Chicago Police Chief of Detectives] Gene Roy noted. They’ve had their days off canceled and hours extended to ensure the event is secure.”
Roy underscored: “They’re working a minimum of 12 hours, and that’s not including time to and from work. They’re struggling to maintain their households, their families.
“I find the whole DNC convention here as an example of the elitism of the Democratic Party. The politicians are inside a heavily fortified building, almost like a castle. They’re feasting on the best of food and liquor while protected by hundreds of armed police officers and two separate fences.”
This is the Party whose people clamor to defund the police. We see you!
“Is this the way we want to treat our officers? Do we want officers who are sleep-deprived, burnt out, confronting protesters in a volatile situation?” Roy mused. (Listen to his brief interview to hear him candidly dish details.)
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling also addressed the anti-police buffoonery, namely after some female police officers were peppered with “sexually explicit” commentary that he called “disgusting.”
Nevertheless, the beat goes on…
Already mentally fatigued from a politicized environment that unambiguously devalued law enforcement officers with foolish notions of defunding the police force —the same men and women now embroiled in protecting politicos inside rendering promises for power-holds— and figures outside boisterously screaming about the mood of the moment (some sexually), Chicago’s cops have an ally on wheels.
The fine folks who launched Light the Line come to the aid of underappreciated, overburdened, understaffed, and overworked cops whose professional psyches are taxed far beyond sustainable thresholds.
Per their website: “Light the Line offers a suite of services provided by thoroughly vetted, culturally competent professionals who are experts in the unique well-being needs of law enforcement officers. Light the Line will provide resources utilizing the first of its kind law enforcement mobile well-being unit.”
And help is always needed: “Please continue to donate when you can as we are running low on supplies. We are a nonprofit organization and every donation is tax-exempt and used directly for the support and services of our officers.”
(Photo courtesy of Light the Line Foundation.)
In the photo, the woman clad in civilian attire is Elizabeth French, executive director of Light the Line Foundation, who is personally invested in the Chicago area and harbors somber reasons for her imperative role in supporting the courageous men and women who pin justice badges and go out to fight the good fight:
“Elizabeth French is the proud mother of two adopted children, Andrew and Ella. She recently retired from 27 years of teaching Special Education with Berwyn South District 100.
“Born and raised in the City of Chicago and a lifelong resident of the Chicago area, Elizabeth is committed to sharing her time, talent, and treasure to assist her native home.
“She believes in supporting charitable organizations and causes that assist communities and their residents, first responders, children, and animals.
“Prior to adopting her children, Elizabeth was a foster parent with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. She taught religious education to persons with developmental disabilities through SPRED (Special Religious Development), an Archdiocese religious education program.
“Working with Small Paws Rescue she has fostered many pups to their forever homes.
“Elizabeth’s commitment to Light the Line is close to her heart, as her daughter, Chicago Police Officer Ella French, was killed in the line of duty on August 7, 2021. Light the Line was established in honor of Ella.”
Bearing her name across its sides, the Light the Line mobile vehicle is dedicated to Officer Ella French, coming full circle to aid her brothers and sisters in blue and help them carry the weight foisted in an unrelentingly volatile climate.
Reviewing the Light the Line Foundation’s website, we see that the executive board includes people experienced in Chicago law enforcement, most of whom hold badges and hard-earned tenures that transcend first-hand knowledge of what the Windy City’s cops endure.
Looking at the Light the Line “Events” page, the monthly calendar for August 2024 has the 17th through the 24th blocked off as a week dedicated to the mobile unit being present for gobs of Chicago cops working the DNC event.
Launching Light the Line
The mobile unit deployed by Light the Line staff is a former ambulance turned special service unit for the Slate Belt Regional Police Department (SBRPD), formerly used as a command post at events in their jurisdiction.
Before it changed hands and became Light the Line’s mobile response unit, the SBRPD folks named it “Sue,” touted its legacy, and implored its present status:
Sue is “the first-of-its-kind mobile support unit that will be deployed to Chicago police officers experiencing traumatic events while working in the field. Currently, ‘Sue’ is serving officers who are working the National Democratic Convention and will work many other police incidents that occur daily in Chicago, Illinois.”
That engenders the specter of law enforcement agencies potentially replicating the mobile response concept, meeting cops where they are: In the field of operations, making Light the Line’s real-time we-come-to-you concept more ideal, backing cops in the middle of turmoil created by politicos.
And it is often something as simple as a gesture of feeding/rehydrating cops in the field who are dutifully relegated to a fixed post, without enough time or deserved decorum of sitting for a peaceful meal through the duration of a seemingly never-ending tour of duty. Hence, catering to cops right where they are is essential.
(Photo courtesy of the Light the Line Foundation.)
The officers at the Slate Belt Regional Police Department reflected on the current use of their former mobile command post, saying, “We are happy that ‘Sue’ has been given a new and honorable mission. A mission that is greatly needed and one that we hope spreads throughout the country. She will now aid the men and women who are always willing to assist others in their times of need.”
Given the widespread baseless guff America’s cops are subjected to, the Light the Line concept seems to be a seed for spawning.
“Light the Line supports ALL law enforcement agencies! We intend to offer support and services for all law enforcement agencies in the United States. We begin with our very own Chicago Police Department and have already had inquiries from outside agencies for our support services,” their spokesperson said.
Holding the line is no easy feat. We hear the mantra often. We see what cops endure, much to their detriment, making officer well-being increasingly emphasized.
Thankfully, those in the know directly bring the metaphorical glue to sensational scenes, bonding the selfless public safety pieces to withstand the bash of proverbial wrecking balls meandering the throngs of pedestrians, some of whom brew and unleash anarchistic behavior, much of which is directed at law enforcement officers.
Nevertheless, the fine folks staffing the Light the Line mobile unit do whatever it takes to support our LEOs!
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