COPS Walk Steps Off From Woonsocket Police HQ

The annual COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors) Walk relay to Washington DC kicked off yesterday at 9 a.m. at Woonsocket Police headquarters, and Woonsocket Lt. Edward Cunanan had good news for the people who saw them off.

"We are prepared to walk down to DC and hand the Concerns of Police Survivors a check for $25,000," Cunanan said Thursday morning during a brief press conference launching the walk. 

When police officers give their lives on the job, Concerns of Police Survivors provides psychological help, retreats and scholarships for their families. An estimated 150 officers die in the line of duty each year, Cunanan said.

Cunanan said many people have asked him, about the work he and the other officers do to raise funds for COPS during the year (including a comedy night, bowl-a-thon and coin drive) leading up to the COPS Walk itself, 'Is it worth it?' 

"Especially this year, that question is especially important, because the city is going through some difficult times. We all know that. But one thing that I've learned during the course of my lifetime is that you don't, especially at times, difficult times, you don't turn away from principle. You lead, show the way, and eventually you get through it. People will follow you. You just don't turn away from principle," Cunanan said.

"I think this city should expect its officers to lead the way, to be community leaders, to be shining examples of righteousness and goodness, and what better way to show that, to prove that, than to take on this mission, to show people and help people who really need it when they need it most."

This year marks the the 13th COPS walk for the department, and 13 members of the Woonsocket Police Department began the three day wall/run trek to the National Law Enforcement Officer’s Memorial at the nation's capitol after remarks from Cunanan, Mayor Leo Fontaine and Police Chief Thomas Carey.

The team makes the trip in rotating groups of three. Each rotation covers twelve miles with a group on the move at all times. Each runner/walker is guarded by a trailing safety cruiser with emergency lights and completes a four-mile leg and the group rotates positions — all the way to Washington. 

This year's COPS Walk team: 

Lt. Ed Cunanan 
Lt. Norm Galipeau
Lt. Brad Scully
Sgt. Sean Carpenter
Det. Peter Menard
Det. Pat McGourty
Det. Justin Glode
Det. Mike Flood
Ptl. James Dybala
Ptl. Gabe Koneczny
Ptl. Zach Bienkiewicz
Ptl. Joe Brazil
Ptl. Matt Labine

The COPS Walk team is still accepting donations. Interested donors can donate directly via paypal at the Woonsocket COPS Walk website, or via check made out to COPS Walk, and addressed to the Woonsocket Police Department, c/o Sgt. Cunanan, 242 Clinton St., Woonsocket, RI 02895.