Aid group for families of police, first responders expanding to Cape Girardeau County

Like the fallen first responders it assists, The BackStoppers Inc. knows a thing or two about a rapid response.

As of Dec. 2, the St. Louis-based organization that financially supports the spouses and children of police officers, firefighters and other publicly funded emergency medical responders who die in the line of duty is available to help families in Cape Girardeau County.

BackStoppers, started in 1959, serves 12 other Eastern Missouri counties, like Ste. Genevieve and Perry counties, and five Illinois counties near St. Louis.

"We wish there was no need for us to exist, but those who protect our lives and property do so knowing that theirs is a dangerous profession and that lives can be lost in an instant," said BackStoppers executive director Ron Battelle.

Cape Girardeau businessman Bob Neff, general manager of Ford Groves and a member of The BackStoppers board of directors, first heard of the organization in 2001 at a St. Louis Cardinals game, just days after two local police officers were shot on North Kingshighway.

"Luckily, it turned out they both recovered," Neff said. "Seeing the ceremony really brought to mind the fact that Cape didn't have that sort of coverage for their first responders."

Neff said he contacted the group but that it wasn't expanding at the time. So he reached out to members of the community who recruited even more people to form The Guardians. In three years, the local group, formed with the same intentions as BackStoppers, raised $180,000.

While there wasn't a need for the funds locally during the life of The Guardians, Neff said, the money was available if necessary.

"When the board of the Guardians found out that the BackStoppers were willing come aboard, we voted to dissolve the Guardians and donate the funds to them," Neff said.

When BackStoppers hears about the death of a first responder in their coverage area, the group responds instantly, giving the family $5,000 to pay immediate expenses. The group's assistance is ongoing, as it often arranges to pay a family's outstanding debts, such as mortgage, taxes or credit card bills.

Neff said the group often assists in helping a family find health insurance, if they don't already have coverage, and they offer continued support to the deceased's children by providing the finances to attend college.

"The BackStoppers observed its 50th anniversary last year and has significant financial assets," Neff said. "It's amazing what this group is able to do."

According to Neff, the organization's main sources of revenue are donations and membership fees. BackStoppers has more than 3,000 members.

Although it's an "unfortunate source of funding," Neff said, the organization also receives substantial support from communities after they lose one of their police officers or firefighters.

East County Fire District chief Dwayne Kirchhoff said BackStoppers extending its coverage is great for the county. Although the association supports Missouri's Burn Camp annually, Kirchhoff said they may discuss also contributing to BackStoppers.

"I'd definitely like to know more about it," he said. "There's not much out there for families, especially on the volunteer side of it. We're fortunate enough to have life insurance policies that our department pays for, but not all departments are that blessed."

To learn more about The BackStoppers or how to donate, log on to www.backstoppers.org.

ehevern@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent Address:

10411 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO

1501 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO