Findlay, Ohio, Jan. 28, 2005 – The University of Findlay will host a symposium, “Learning about Death, Dying and Grieving for Public Emergency Personnel,” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15 in the Alumni Memorial Union.

The public is invited to attend.

According to a study conducted by the United States Department of Justice, a law enforcement officer takes his or her own life every 17 hours. Additionally, a law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty every 57 hours. Also, law enforcement officers typically encounter accident, murder and other disaster scenes on the job. This symposium is intended to help public emergency personnel better deal with issues related to death and dying that they face in their work.

Symposium speakers will address these issues, as well as the psychological and physical effects on the law enforcement officer’s spouse survivors, co-workers, family and friends. Another key topic that will be discussed is the proper procedures for the notification of immediate family of their loss.

The keynote speaker is Betty Montgomery, Ohio auditor and former Ohio attorney general. Other speakers include Allen County Sheriff Dan Beck; Linda Pope, president of the Ohio Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors Inc.; Phillip W. Lucas, lecturer in criminal justice at UF; Michael Armentrout, former Columbus police officer and owner of Armentrout Funeral home in Waynesfield, Ohio; and Don Dewey, president of Bio Clean Team Inc. in Lebanon, Ohio.

This event is a pilot program sponsored by the University in affiliation with the State Office of Criminal Justice Services, Eoff Insurance Agency, Merrill Lynch Investments and Factory Direct International. UF graduate student Larry Musser, who retired from Hancock County government after 33 years, organized the symposium as a thesis project in his pursuit of a master of liberal arts degree.

To register for the symposium, send checks or money orders made out to The University of Findlay to Paula Babcock, The University of Findlay, 1000 N. Main St., Findlay, OH 45840, by Feb. 7. The $10 registration fee includes a continental breakfast, lunch, snacks and a training certificate. For more information, call 419-434-4566 or 800-472-9502 or e-mail babcock@findlay.edu.