Joellen Brown is ready to begin the first 12.5 miles day of COPS Walk SW 2025.
Joellen Brown of San Manuel walked a total of 25 miles in one weekend this past February in the Verrado community of Buckeye, AZ. She walked to honor and remembrance fallen law enforcement officers.
This latest Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) SW walk brings her up to a total of 350 miles walked in support of this non-profit and those that it assists. She hopes to walk another 25 miles this fall at the COPS Walk to the Wall 2025 event in Washington, DC. If all goes well there, she may make one more walk in Buckeye in February 2026 to bring her total to an even 400 miles.
Joellen has a Buckeye Police Officer escort as she crosses the finish line.
“I began this journey back in 2012 when I took part in the very first COPS Walk Southwest,” Joellen said. “I now have a total of FOURTEEN COPS Walks under my feet!! Thank you each and every one of you who have been a part of ‘Team Joellen’ for all these miles and know that you have made an impact in many lives with your support.
“Always first and foremost in my heart, is my father-in-law Leroy Dale Brown, Cochise County Sheriff’s Department, Arizona, killed in the line of duty on Dec. 6, 1969, in Bowie, Arizona. Deputy Brown was shot and killed by a man he had arrested several months earlier. Deputy Leroy Brown was survived by his wife, two sons, parents, one brother and four sisters.”
Other Fallen Officers she wanted to honor and remember for their sacrifice:
- Osvaldo Albarati – Lieutenant, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Government. End of Watch – Feb. 26, 2013.
- Eric Williams – Senior Officer Specialist, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Government. End of Watch – Feb. 25, 2013.
- Samuel Steele Hicks – Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Government. End of Watch – Nov. 19, 2008.
- Jose Rivera – Correctional Officer, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Government. End of Watch – June 20, 2008.
- Erik David Hite – Police Officer, Tucson Police Department, Arizona. End of Watch – June 2, 2008.
- Jason Schwartz – Deputy Sheriff, Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado. End of Watch – September 28, 2001.
- Scott James Williams – Senior Officer Specialist, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Government. End of Watch – April 3, 1997.
- Manuel Hurtado Tapia – Sergeant, Arizona Department of Public Safety. End of Watch – Jan. 8, 1991.
- Martha Dixon Martinez – Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Government. End of Watch – Nov. 22, 1994.
- Kent Donald Swanson – Sergeant, Shelley Police Department, Idaho. End of Watch – May 21, 2018.
- Burke Jevon Rhoads – Police Officer, Nicholasville Police Department, Kentucky. End of Watch – March 11, 2015.
- Darian Rey Jarrott – Patrolman, New Mexico State Police, New Mexico. End of Watch – Feb. 4, 2021.
- Bradley Steven Henry Johnson – Deputy Sheriff, Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama. End of Watch – June 30, 2022.
- Dillon Micheal Vakoff – Police Officer, Arvada Police Department, Colorado. End of Watch – Sept. 11, 2022.
- Eric Jason Autobee – Correctional Sergeant, Colorado Department of Corrections, Colorado. End of Watch – Oct. 18, 2002.
- Mary Katherine Ricard – Sergeant, Colorado Department of Corrections, Colorado. End of Watch – Sept. 24, 2012.
- Thomas Lynn Clements – Executive Director, Colorado Department of Corrections, Colorado. End of Watch – March 19, 2013.
- Lisa Mauldin – Corrections Officer, Miller County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas. End of Watch – Dec. 19, 2016.
There is not a registration fee to participate in COPS Walk events; however, participants, whether walking as an individual, or as part of a team, must raise a minimum of $1,000 per person. This covers lodging and meals for the participant during the event weekend.
This year’s COPS Walk SW raised over $50,000. These walks aim to honor America’s fallen officers by gathering survivors, friends, and members of the law enforcement community. Participants take on the challenge of walking 25 miles over two days to raise funds for Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), which supports more than 80,000 survivors affected by line-of-duty deaths.
For more information on COPS please go to https://www.concernsofpolicesurvivors.org.
A total of 31 walkers completed the COPS Walk SW 2025 with the help of many first responders, supporters and volunteers.