GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- At a time when Ingham County Sheriff's Deputy Grant Whitaker's family is making important after life decisions, a non-profit group that provides resources for the families of fallen officers is offering to help.
The Thin Blue Line offers free legal services, help with funeral arrangements, and other important resources in order to help a family find time to heal after a tragedy.
Heather Cosgrove said that at the time of Grand Rapids Police Officer Robert Kozminski's death in 2007, she was just 24 years old and mother to Kozminski's three-year-old daughter, and it was hard to imagine how she'd move forward. "That was the first time I knew what it felt like to really have a broken heart," said Cosgrove. "Those stacks of paper work and all the people to contact and all that stuff, that is very stressful when you are already very stressed."
But once the Thin Blue Line stepped in to help, it changed her life.
Cosgrove is now president of The Thin Blue Line's Western Region.
She said the group, out of respect, doesn't reach out to families during the first 24 hours after the death of their loved one. So the group hasn't yet provided any resources for the Whitaker family, but they are ready to help in any way they can.
The Thin Blue Line also said that the group doesn't just help in the immediate time that follows but will continues with resources for years to come.
Visit the Thin Blue Line here to learn more or to donate.