General Facts about Officer Down, Inc.
Officer Down began in the summer of 2002 by then Sheriff’s Officer Sean C. Lavin of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office in response to the illness and demise of Sheriff’s Detective Kevin McManimon. Kevin was diagnosed, treated and ultimately succumbed to cancer within 30 days, leaving us on June 30, 2002. Kevin left behind his widow Donna, his Daughter Jessica, and his son Joe.
The McManimon’s, as so many families, were not prepared emotionally or financially for this hardship. Before Kevin left us, he spoke with then PBA 187 President Mike Vasil and asked him to ensure his family was ‘taken care of.’ After hearing this, Sean with the help of Sheriff’s Officers Christina Kalm and Mike Vasil worked tirelessly and in four weeks time they arranged, organized, and with the help of Michael Langsner of KatManDu, on August 10, 2002 conducted the first ‘SummerStock’, raising ten thousand dollars for the McManimon family. This event, as well as, monies raised from other events and generously donated by other PBA locals throughout the state helped significantly ease the financial burden the McManimon family faced.
Due to the events amazing success, Mike Langsner on behalf of KatManDu Trenton asked Sean, Christina, and Mike if ‘SummerStock’ could become a yearly event. After much thought and consideration, Sean, Christina, and Mike decided for ‘SummerStock’ to be a success they needed to reach out to help more of their Brother and Sister Officers. They decided to reach out to all Law Enforcement Agencies in Mercer County hoping this would be the first step to a statewide organization. This organization would help ALL Law Enforcement Officers and their families in their time of need. This organization was named ‘[Officer Down, Inc.’ and was created to assist ALL permanently disabled and deceased Officers and their families. The criteria was set as any full-time Law Enforcement Officer in the State of New Jersey that was in financial need, regardless if the injury or demise occurred on duty or off and regardless of their union affiliation, Officer Down would assist them.
May 2003:
Officer Down was created and incorporated.
June 2003:
Officer Down™, Inc. submitted their application to the Internal Revenue service for not-for-profit recognition and tax exemption. Sean, Christina, and Mike were determined to see their dream of a state wide organization whose sole purpose was to assist their Brother and Sister Officers, whatever the cause.
In 2003, Officer Down helped the following Officers and their families:
- Trooper Christopher Scales of the New Jersey State Police-Died in the line of duty, leaving behind a widow and three children.
- SGT Thomas Prettyman of the Lawrence Township Police Department-Permanently Injured-off duty, has a wife and three children
- SGT Barbara Davis-Gentry of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office Permanently Injured in the line of duty, has a husband and several children
- Sheriff’s Officer Kathy Koval of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office-Permanently Injured in the line of duty, has a family.
- Sheriff’s Officer Jim Davies of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office-Permanently Injured-off duty-paralyzed, has a wife and two children.
- Det. Edward Sullivan of the Princeton Borough Police Department-Untimely Demise-off duty, leaving behind a family.
- Officer Frank Reccia of the Hamilton Township Police Department-Untimely Demise-off duty, leaving behind a widow and children.
‘SummerStock 03’ helped raise monies for six Officers from throughout Mercer County and One State Trooper, Christopher Scales, who had died in the line of duty. ‘SummerStock 03’ was a resounding success and raised more than $25, 000.00 dollars for these Officers and/or their families. The event combining an emotional opening ceremony honoring all these brave Officers and their families with live music, games, and raffle prizes . . . all proceeds were evenly distributed amongst the nine recipients . . . Unfortunately, this event was soured by the news of the demise of a Brother Officer. Frank Recchia of the Hamilton Township Police Department and PBA Local 66 died on the day of ‘SummerStock 03’. Upon hearing this, Sean, Christina and Mike were determined not to wait another year to help Frank’s widow and children . . .
In November of ‘03, the First Officer Down Bachelor Auctions sponsored by Philadelphia radio station mix 95.7 and KatManDu Trenton was held and more than $3,000.00 were donated to the widow and family of Officer Frank Reccia.
Officer Down was off and running, adding more fund-raising events and attempting to assist more Brother and Sister Officers from all over New Jersey.
In 2004 Officer Down assisted the Following Officers and their Families:
- Trooper Bertram Zimmerman of the New Jersey State Police-Died in the line of duty, leaving behind a newlywed wife and family.
- Sheriff’s Officer Christina Kalm of the Mercer County Sheriff’s office-Permanently Injured in the line of duty.
- Lieutenant Dennis Shepard of Trenton Police Department-Untimely Demise-off duty, leaving behind a widow, children and family.
- Officer William Ford of the East Windsor Police Permanently Disabled in a Motorcycle Accident off-duty, has a family.
- Corrections Officer Charlie Perez of Burlington County Corrections-Untimely Demise-off duty, leaving behind an expecting wife and unborn daughter.
- Officer Bobbie Custis of the Ewing Township Police Department-Untimely Demise-off duty, leaving behind a widow and two children.
- Parole Officer Steven Paparazzi of the New Jersey State Parole-Untimely Demise off duty, leaving behind a wife and children.
Once again, Sean, Christina, Mike, and a group of dedicated members decided that in order to raise even more money for these worthy Officers they needed more fund-raising events. So a Motorcycle run was added to ‘SummerStock’ and The Bachelor Auction, The East Windsor Township Police Softball Tournament also donated ALL proceeds from their event giving Officer Down four events from which monies would be pooled and equally distributed to their recipients. Recipients received more than $3000.00 each
May 2004:
Officer Down was granted temporary 501(c)3 status pending their IRS revue.
In 2005 Officer Down, assisted the following Officers:
- Officer Thomas McMeekin of the Atlantic City Police Department-Died in the line of duty, leaving behind a wife, newborn child and family
- SGT. Fran Schumacher of the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, Untimely Demise off duty, leaving behind a wife, two children, and family.
- Officer Joseph ‘Joey’ Nocera of the Trenton Police Department-Untimely Demise off duty, leaving behind a newlywed wife and infant son, a teenage son and family.
- Officer Greg Anderson of the Deptford Township Police Department-Untimely Demise off duty, leaving behind a widow and children
- Officer Dominick Calabrese of the Mount Laurel Police Department-Permanently disabled (ALS) off duty, has a wife, children, and grandchildren
Officer Down continued to grow, adding more events, including a golf tournament, banquet, and receiving even more public support . . . Additionally, Officer Down began receiving corporate sponsorship from the West Auto group. Owner Glen and Leslie West began and have continued to generously support Officer Down in their goal to assist permanently disabled and deceased Officers and their families.
In March 2005 Officer Down sponsors a Bone Marrow drive at the Hamilton Township Hibernian hall to benefit a Vermont State trooper in desperate needs of a bone transplant. Officers from as far as Allentown and Harrisburg Pennsylvania travel to lend their support for one of our falling comrades.
May 2005, Officer Down receives tax exempt 501(c)3 status from the Internal Revenue Service.
Officer Down continues to assist Brother and Sister Officers without prejudice.
In January 2006 Officer Down held their first banquet honoring their recipients and sponsors. More than 200 people attended; helping raise money and awareness for the organization and their brave recipients. Recipients received $4,500.00 each
In 2006 Officer Down assisted the following:
- Lieutenant Keith Hillman of the West Windsor Police Department-Untimely Demise off duty, leaving behind a widow and four children
- Officer Roy Hernesh of the West Windsor Police Department-Permanently Injured in the line of duty, has a wife and family.
- Detective Lisa Alvarez of the Mercer County Sheriff’s office-Untimely Demise, leaving behind a husband, two children and a family
- Officer Roy Wells of the Maple Shade Police Department-Permanently Disabling Illness, has a wife and four children
- Officer William Gray of the Trenton Police Department-Permanently Disabled in the line of duty, has a newlywed wife and infant child.
In 2007 Officer Down is assisting the following Officers:
- Officer Michael ‘Mickey O’ O’Loughlin of the Bergen County Prosecutors Office - Succumbed to cancer, leaving behind a widow and two children
- Officer Scott Stanton of the Ewing Police Department - Injured in the line of duty, has a wife and two children.
- Officer Tyron Franklin of the Paterson Police Department - Killed in the line of duty, leaving behind a Fiancé and an infant son.
Officer Down continues to grow; they add more events, a car wash to their list, which now includes a Bachelor Auction, a Motorcycle run, ‘SummerStock’, a Golf tournament and the Annual Banquet.
Officer Down begins to receive more corporate sponsors, Commerce bank, Charlie Allen Collision, and Chickie and Pete’s restaurant to name a few. In August 2006 Gold’s Gym Lawrenceville and Officer Down joined forces to present Guns-N-Hoses boxing; a boxing event of Cops vs. Firemen being held on April 21, 2007. Monies will go to Officer Down and assorted firefighter charities.
Officer Down is still committed to our founding principles, helping any permanently disabled or deceased Law Enforcement Officer and their families in need. Officer Down is there to ensure our Brother and Sister Officers are . . . Not Forgotten