Like all individuals, police employees have issues which arise that result in a need for need financial assistance. The Phoenix Police Department and EAU have several resources to help employees in financial need. The 100 Club of Arizona is a major partner who assists the families of public safety officers with funds when an officer is killed in the line of duty or when an officer dies, but it is not in the line of duty, and they have a Hero’s Fund to assist officers and their families through other times of financial need (100 Club of Arizona, 2020). The 100 Club of Arizona has devoted both money and resources over the last year to enhance public safety personnel’s mental health and wellness. They also assist with mental health and substance abuse treatment for officers when services are not covered by insurance (100 Club of Arizona, 2020).
The Phoenix Police Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that addresses the City of Phoenix Police Department’s unmet capital needs, provides financial assistance in crises, and recognizes those who protect our communities (Phoenix Police Foundation, 2020). In 2017, EAU partnered with the Phoenix Police Foundation to create an Employee Wellness Fund. The Employee Wellness Fund is supported by Department employees who contribute money two times a month, and the funds are used to help employees in times of need. Employees requesting assistance from the Employee Wellness Fund contact EAU and they fill out an application on behalf of the employee and send it to the Phoenix Police Foundation (Employee wellness fund memorandum, 2017). The Phoenix Police Foundation reviews the application and decides whether to award funds; the award maximum is $2,500. The Phoenix Police Foundation also assists the families of officers killed in the line of duty by taking donations made in the officer’s name and giving 100% of the proceeds to the fallen officer’s family. Another resource available to help officers with financial issues is the unions. There are two unions for sworn officers within the Phoenix Police Department, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) and the Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association (PPSLA). Both unions have a charitable function and are available to assist union members during specific needs. EAU also partnered with both unions in 2016 to create Go Bags carried by all EAU personnel. Go Bags contain t-shirts, shorts, sweatshirts, flip flops, cell phone chargers, and toiletry items and are given to employees and their families who were staying in the hospital and to officers whose uniforms were covered in blood and other biological material or damaged and needed different clothing while remaining on scene to be interviewed by detectives.