The Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs, or AZCOPS, hosted a screening of a documentary film that highlighted the sacrifices of police officers and their families on Tuesday night at The Pressroom.
“Heroes Behind the Badge” gave viewers an inside look at the lives and sacrifices of police officers through personal anecdotes by those who had been injured or lost friends in the line of duty.
The screening coincided with the death of Phoenix Police detective John Hobbs during a shootout on Monday. AZCOPS president and 34-year police veteran Ed Neidkowski asked for a moment of silence for Hobbs and the officer injured in Monday’s shooting before introducing the film.
Neidkowski said he hoped that bringing the community together to view the documentary would better educate people about the danger police officers face on a daily basis and foster a positive relationship between police officers and the community.
“I hope it puts a light on what we do for our community,” Neidkowski said. “We want to be your friends, not your enemies.”
Rock A Belly food truck, which was present at the event, and the bar both donated 10 percent of the night’s proceeds to the 100 Club of Arizona, an organization that provides support for the families of public safety officers, firemen and paramedics who have been injured or killed in the line of duty.
The screening was the first event AZCOPS has hosted to educate people about what police officers really do and the ways the community can support them.
“We pull up to the scene and we don’t even know what will happen to us. Hopefully this event will show people what we do,” Neidkowski said. “We’re hoping that that everlasting knowledge of what we do stays in people’s minds and movies like this help them think about it.”
Stacey Champion of Champion PR + Consulting, which helped organize the event, said it was completely understandable that turnout for the event was lower than expected, as many people were rightfully attending vigils around the valley for Hobbs.
Neidkowski expressed a similar sentiment and said, “I’ve buried some friends, and it’s not a good feeling.”
Champion said she helped to promote the event because she believed in the cause and the police officers behind the event.
“Every single day when these cops walk out of their houses, they’re literally risking their lives,” Champion said. “These are people who are so important for our community.”
Attendee Tammi Halim, whose husband is a sergeant at the Buckeye Police Department, said the film and event as a whole was likely the most beneficial for people unaware of the daily sacrifices police officers and their families make.
“I think if somebody wasn’t as involved, it would really open their eyes [to these issues],” Halim said.
Neidkowski said he hopes AZCOPS can continue to plan events that will educate the public about other issues law enforcement officials have been criticized for, such as their pension. He said events such as the film screening will hopefully lead to a greater appreciation for the services police officers provide.
“There are people who don’t like us, but they call us when something goes wrong,” Neidkowski said. “Regardless of how they feel about us, we come to them.”
Contact the reporter at pkunthar@asu.edu
