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Show Them Your Thanks The police officer who catches a thief while patrolling our neighborhood. The firefighter who contained the blaze to one room and saved your home. The deputy who busted the drug operation before the drugs hit our streets. They protect our property, our lives and our freedom. They are the public safety officers who put their lives on the line for our protection and safety. Our society cannot function without them. Yet these officers are often overworked, underpaid and under appreciated. Montgomery, Alabama businessmen Grant Sullivan and Jerry Wills had a brainstorm in 2002. Affected by the events of 9/11, the two were looking for a way to show their appreciation for the bravery and dedication of the men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect and serve as public safety officers. When Sullivan & Wills learned that most public safety officers only had small life insurance policies provided by state or local government in the event of death outside the line of duty, they found their inspiration for the Public Safety Insurance Fund (PSIF). With the support of other local business leaders, the Public Safety Insurance Fund was established as a way for the business community to tangibly show their appreciation to public safety officials while meeting the need for adequate insurance coverage for these officers in the event of death, both on and off-duty. Since its inception, more than ninety-five Montgomery businesses have joined forces to provide free life and accidental death insurance policies for every full-time active duty officer of Montgomery’s public safety departments and Alabama’s highway patrol. The first program of its kind in the nation, the PSIF provides up to $60,000 in benefits ($10,000 life insurance and $50,000 accidental death) for all active duty officers with the Montgomery Fire Department, the Montgomery Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, and Alabama State Troopers on Highway Patrol. The program now has the wholehearted support of Alabama Governor Bob Riley, Attorney General Troy King, Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright, and a host of other state and local officials. The PSIF has contributed more than $350,000 in funds over the past six years to provide the one-year insurance policies, which are renewed annually. One hundred percent of the donations are used to purchase life insurance for the officers! There are no overhead costs. These policies are paid for with no cost to Montgomery police officers, firefighters, deputies, highway patrol officers, their families or taxpayers. ACE, Reliance Standard and Palomar Insurance have served as the insurance brokers on these policies. Since the fund’s inception, the families of eleven public safety officers have received benefits. Due to the tremendous success of this pilot program, similar programs have since been established in Prattville and Selma, and are currently being considered in Auburn and Opelika, and in Florida, the cities of Tallahassee and Ft. Myers. The Public Safety Insurance Fund is a registered 5013C charity. For more information on the PSIF or ways you can become involved, please call Grant Sullivan or Jerry Wills at (334) 396-3333. If you would like to join the Public Safety Insurance Fund, please download this registration form that you can fax to: (334) 396-9390 or mail to: Public Safety Insurance Fund 6708 Taylor Circle Montgomery, AL 36117 |
