Following the 2014 line of duty murders of Sacramento County Deputy Danny Oliver and Placer County Detective Mike Davis Jr., the End of Watch Fund came up with the idea of supporting all of the law enforcement officials who want to attend memorial and funeral services for fallen comrades with what has been dubbed the Snack Bag Project.
End of Watch officials noted that law enforcement funeral services generally last two hours or more. After the service, that officer will follow their fallen to their burial site, and remain at attention during that time as well. Attending officers usually spend over 10 hours at a law enforcement funeral, with water and sustenance being a complete after thought.
In 2014 End of Watch Fund solicited donations and volunteers to help put together 3,000 snack bags for the Deputy Oliver and Deputy Davis services. the bags were left on each patrol car in the parking lot.
Here in 2018 with the shooting death of Sacramento County Sheriff's deputy Mark Stasyuk during a shootout in Rancho Cordova End of Watch is once again pulling together snack bags. However, they are soliciting handmade sympathy cards from the public.
End of Watch board member Casey Robinson said they have collect approximately 2,000 cards from individuals, family, schools, and others. The goal was 2,500 cards before the Stasyuk memorial service on Saturday, September 29.
Sympathy cards can be donated at the Elk Grove Police Department 8400 Laguna Palms Way until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 27.