Preparing for the worst

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Tips & Techniques with Rachel Fretz

By Jamie Thompson and Rachel Fretz, PoliceOne staff

Kevin Weeks, a motorcycle officer from Tempe, Arizona, had just finished his shift on September 28, 2006, and was heading home in the pre-dawn light when his bike hit construction debris and skidded out of control. Officer Weeks died later of his injuries. He was 28 years old.

Alan Weeks is embraced by a Tempe police officer, during funeral services for his son, Tempe Police Officer Kevin Weeks, during funeral services at Grace Community Church, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2006. (AP Photo/David Wallace, Pool)

Caryn Davis, sister of Tempe Police Officer Kevin Weeks, is comforted by Phoenix Police Officer Jeff Jakemer as they walk out of Grace Community Church after funeral services for her brother.(AP Photo/David Wallace, Pool)

At the meeting itself, the first responder meets with a volunteer attorney who inputs their information from the estate planning questionnaire. A customized application merges the first responder's information into the state-specific estate planning documents and creates a will, living will and powers of attorney.

The attorney reviews the draft estate planning documents with the first responder to make sure they understand and agree to the plan. Once the documents are finalized, they are signed, witnessed and notarized at the event so they are effective immediately. The whole process takes about 30 minutes.

Jeff Jacobson, who expanded the project with Hayes in 2004, making it a nationwide foundation, said that he believed there are two main reasons why so many first responders do not have wills.

"I think that most responders are heroes and are fearless," he said, "and to be these things, I think you have to have an emotional component that nothing is going to happen to you.

"These are the people running into the building when we are all running out or doing the 3 a.m. traffic stop, not knowing who or what is in the car. If you acknowledge the fact that something might happen to you, you might not run into that burning building."

Young responders
In addition, Jacobson said he finds many young first responders believe that because of their age and lack of assets, there is no point in having a will.

"It may well be the case that you don't have anything, but it may not be true if something does happen to you," Jacobsen said, referring to memorial funds such as those set up in Charleston, S.C. after nine firefighters died in a furniture warehouse blaze. 

In Phoenix, where firefighters Tarver and Carter died without leaving wills, more than 300 members of the fire department took part in a Wills for Heroes session earlier this year.

Firefighter Tarver died in 2001 after being trapped by debris during a raging fire at a west Phoenix shopping center, while Firefighter Carter collapsed during a lunch break in June and could not be revived by his colleagues.

"When you lose one of your firefighters it's bad enough, but when their things go into probate because they didn't have wills, it makes it even more trying and taxing for their families," Phoenix Fire Chief Bob Khan said.

"But when you're in the fire service, you can think you're unbeatable and don't always look down the road and think what could happen."

Khan said that he was delighted at the response of his department in completing wills at the Wills for Heroes session.

"As a fire chief, to go to the event and see young firefighters with baby strollers was very rewarding for me, to see them making sure their children and partners are taken care of," he said.

For more details on the Wills for Heroes Foundation or to arrange an event at your department, go to WillsforHeroes.org.

More resources: Your personal financial diary provided by Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc.

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