skip to: page content | links on this page | site navigation | footer (site information)

Texas Line of Duty Death Task Force
Caring for Texas Heroes, Their Families, and Their Departments
To Report a Line of Duty Death Please Call 866-736-5868 and/or 832-647-6770

Home | Contact Us |

Response Team

About Our Team

The Texas Line of Duty Death Task Force was one of the first official response teams in the United States. In 2000, after a blaze took the life of firefighter Scott Harscoverhbarger, firefighter Wendy Norris and Lumberton fire chief Dennis Gifford saw first hand how difficult a fatality is on a family and a department. From that experience they discussed the need of having a 'strike team' made up of fire service members of all rank that would respond within 24 hours to a department that suffered a fatality. Wendy, who is the President of Firefighter Ministries, started working on the details of such a team. She then presented her information to the Texas State Firemen's and Fire Marshal's Association whom readily agreed that such a team should be formed. In early 2001 the Texas Line of Duty Death Task Force was officially formed under the guidance of Firefighter Ministries, Texas State Firemen's and Fire Marshal's Association, and the State Fire Marshal's Office.

Since it's inception, the Line of Duty Death Task Force has provided assistance to dozens of families and departments, consulted with hundreds of department around Texas and across the country, educated over a thousand firefighters and EMS workers in department preparation, and has officially partnered with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation LAST Program, the Texas State Firemen's and Fire Marshal's Association, the Federation of Fire Chaplains, and the Texas Fire Chiefs Association . And while the LODD Task Force no longer operates under the guise of the SFMO, they still work closely with the State Fire Marshal as well as with many of their investigators.

The Texas LODD Task Force provides assistance, consulting and education to all fire and EMS departments whether union, private, government, industrial or volunteer. Our team is made up of emergency workers of all ranks who volunteer their time to this important cause. The Task Force is funded through the donations and grants given by private citizens, organizations, and corporations and works under the 501 (c) 3 status of Firefighter Ministries.

 


At Need Assistance

When a line of duty death occurs, the aftermath can send a department into a tailspin. The trauma and stress of the situation can be blinding. Most coverdepartments find that a myriad of support ard services are quickly offered by many individuals, departments, and organizations. While this offered help is well-intentioned, it can quickly become overwhelming and confusing. If your department does experience a line of duty death, it is important that contact is made to the appropriate entities as soon as possible so that some of the initial stress can be eliviated.

Our team is comprised of members who have extensive training and experience in handling the unique needs of a department and family who has experienced a death. WIth hundreds of hours of experience in funeral arrangements, benefits assistance, and counseling our team provides professional, transparent and compassionate care. All of our team members volunteer their time and efforts.

Our team is designed to be 'on scene' within 24 hours (in many cases we have been able to respond within 6-12 hours) after a death has occurred and a call for assistance has been made. Our team will never self-deploy or show up to your department uninvited, so it is crucial that contact is made with us as soon as possible to request our assistance.

Our team can provide the following services but are not limited to:

  • basic to full honors fire/ems service funeral arrangements per request of the family
  • crisis intervention
  • chaplaincy care
  • resource management
  • personal assistance to commanding officers by other commanding officers
  • benefits assistance
  • media/communications assistance such as PIO
  • administrative assistance

Long Term Assistance

The needs of a department and a family do not end when their loved one is buried. Grief has no time table. Benefits require a lot of effort in order to file efficiently and correctly. Investigations take place. Adjustment to life after a fatality happens, sometimes with difficulty. Our team knows that the weeks and months after a funeral can be the loneliest and scariest time for all involved. It is our intention to provide care for as long as we are needed. On average, we care for a family for about three years and a department for about one year.

Our long term assistance plan provides the following but aren't limited:

  • filing of benefits and follow up assistance
  • resources management
  • referrals for therapists, financial advisors, attornies, memorial companies, etc
  • chaplaincy care
  • assistance in filing paperwork for memorials


To Report a Line of Duty Death, Call 866-736-5868 or 832-647-6770

 

About Us | Site Map |Contact Us | ©2009 Texas Line of Duty Death Task Force