| |
SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO JIM MCNULTY
Scottish Police Memorial TrustEarly on Friday October 1, 2004, longtime NLEOMF friend and supporter Jim McNulty died in Scotland of the leukemia which he had fought so long.
In addition to recently establishing and dedicating the United Kingdom Police Memorial (www.spmt.org.uk), Jim created UK COPS, which had much help and inspiration from Concerns of Police Survivors. Jim fought his cancer with the same tenacity that he dedicated to making sure all our fallen law enforcement brothers and sisters get the respect and recognition they deserve.
Recently, Jim sent a moving message about the unveiling of the new Scottish Police Memorial.
>> Read about it here.
TRIBUTE FROM CRAIG W. FLOYD:
It was about 10 years ago when I first had the pleasure of communicating with a wonderful human being named Jim McNulty. At the time, Jim was a detective in Strathclyde, Scotland. He was deeply concerned that law enforcement officers in the United Kingdom were not being issued bullet-resistant vests. Officers were dying and Jim decided to do something about it. He launched a program called "Partners in Safety" (www.ukpolice.org/vest), which collected used, but still usable, body armor from officers in the United States and had them shipped to officers in the United Kingdom. |
*May 14, 2005: United We Stand Tribute to Jim McNulty (National Police Week)
>>Click here for details. |
Thanks to Jim's leadership, and some invaluable assistance from many others on both sides of the Atlantic, more than 5,000 bullet-resistant vests were given to officers in Scotland, England and Wales.
Most of Jim's work was done on the Internet and the telephone. Many of the people involved in the campaign had never met in person, so Jim devised a fitting end to celebrate the program's success. He arranged for all who could make the trip to meet in Washington, DC at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during National Police Week 1998. Dozens of officers from the United Kingdom and the United States met up there, and it became an annual tradition.
Jim McNulty became a fixture at the Memorial's annual candlelight vigil and other National Police Week events. I will always treasure the special visits I had each year with Jim and the officers from the United Kingdom at the Memorial prior to walking over to the Capitol on May 15 for the Peace Officers Memorial Day Ceremony.
It should be noted that Jim's important work did not end with "Partners in Safety." Because of what he saw and experienced at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and National Police Week, Jim went back to the United Kingdom and proceeded to put similar programs in place. He established a support group for the survivors of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. It is called COPS (Care of Police Survivors; www.ukcops.org), and was inspired by the outstanding work being performed here in the United States by COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors).
|
On September 7th of this year, Jim added to his impressive list of accomplishments when the Scottish Police Memorial (www.spmt.org.uk) was dedicated on the grounds of the Scottish Police College. This beautiful memorial bears the names of every Scottish officer ever to die in the line of duty dating back to 1770. Jim was the leader of this formidable effort, and was joined in the formation of the Scottish Police Memorial Trust by Christine Fulton, the wife of Constable Lewis Fulton, a slain officer from the Strathclyde Police, and by Stuart McAllister, another Strathclyde police officer. This memorial went from dream to reality in just over 18 months. It was an amazing achievement.
On October 3, 2004, the United Kingdom commemorated its first annual National Police Memorial Day, a special day established to honor and remember their police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the families of those fallen heroes . This was another of Jim McNulty's dreams that was stirred during his National Police Week visits to the United States.
| 
New UK Police Memorial, being constructed at
Queens Gardens |
Jim always possessed an uncommon drive to get good things done, especially in the years after he was diagnosed with leukemia, an illness the he masked so well with the warmest of smiles and unending courage. During the early morning hours of October 1, Jim McNulty quietly passed away in the peaceful company of family and friends. He left behind many legacies. I am sure I speak for all who knew him when I say, "Rest in peace dear friend. You will always be remembered . . . for what you did and for the man you were."
|
A THANK YOU FROM JIM McNULTY JNR. (11/6/04)
I have recently been made aware of the tribute to Jim McNulty on the NLEOMF website. It is a poignant and touching moment to see that his life meant so much to everyone he met. He would seem to have kindled the fire of kinship in people. This was something that he sought to establish in police officers he met from around the globe, and it would appear he has been a tremendous success in his efforts.
I applaud the wonderful work that you and your organisation carries out. You should never forget the awesome impact that you have on people's lives. Not only do you help survivors and their families come to terms with the loss of a loved one; you also help to improve the quality of life for those that are left behind whilst nurturing a memory that should never be allowed to fade.
I travelled to Police Week several times, the first being in 1999, with Jim McNulty. The spirit which fills an entire city for just a few short days is carried away from the memorial and events by those who attend it and who share in such an extraordinary experience. It was he who introduced me to one of the most emotionally draining yet uplifting experiences of my life. He showed me not just the memorial and the awful number of names it bears, but also the kinship and air of hope that is ingrained in every officer and family member who attends, and I found it to be truly remarkable. He spoke about the memorial, COPS and NLEOMF with such passion and humility. It would bring a spark to his eye and he did his best to bring these things home to UK officers and their families. He worked hard and he succeeded, but it should be acknowledged that it was your work which inspired him to do this.
I will continue to travel to Police Week as often as commitments at home allow, and when I do it will be to remember the sacrifice police officers make on our behalf. It will be to pray for their souls, their memories and their families. It will be to pray for you, your organisation, and the outstanding commitment that you have shown in enabling us to come and pay our respects. It will be to pray for those who continue to watch over us, every shift of every day; keeping us safe. It will also be to pray for Jim McNulty. No words can ever express the great sorrow and pain I feel knowing that I will never again speak to him, or hear his voice, or see him smile. He was a man like no other I have ever known, he was my best friend and he was my dad.
Thank you for giving him what was undoubtedly some of the most powerful experiences of his life, and for helping him to realise his goal. It has resulted not only in a wonderful memorial for Scottish officers and their families but it has given our family a place we can go to remember his passion and enthusiasm and hard work, and to witness the impact that it is having on the new generation of those who protect us.
I look forward to visiting Police Week again soon. I only hope next time there will be no more names to add. |
| YOUR TRIBUTES TO JIM McNULTY:
|
|
