L3-EOTech joins as a Safety Grant Sponsorship Partner in the 2011 Spirit of Blue Campaign

The Spirit of Blue Foundation announced today that L3-EOTech, www.eotech-inc.com, has officially joined as a Safety Grant Sponsor in the Spirit of Blue Campaign. EOTech, world leader in design and marketing of holographic weapon sights, has been widely adopted throughout the law enforcement community for use on tactical weapons. As a partner in the Campaign, agencies who receive funds through the Spirit of Blue Safety Grant Program can elect to use their funds to purchase EOTech sights, night vision, thermal and weapon illumination products as well as training devices.

“The Spirit of Blue Campaign was a logical choice for L-3 EOTech to support. Its commitment to providing access to safety equipment and training for the Law Enforcement Community provides an invaluable resource – one that we are proud to stand behind,” said Lisa Kemp, Brand Manager for L3-EOTech.

“L3-EOTech is an exciting partner for the Spirit of Blue Campaign because of their strong commitment to the law enforcement community while providing insightful and durable products to that market,” stated Ryan T. Smith, Vice-Chairman of the Spirit of Blue Foundation. “We see target acquisition and illumination as critical to safety because peace officers have this awesome responsibility to use force when necessary. Sighting and illumination systems are keys to directing that force effectively to protect their own lives and the lives of those they are sworn to defend.”

Five non-profit organizations actively supporting the law enforcement community have already teamed up with the Spirit of Blue Foundation for the 2011 holiday campaign that launched in October. Those organizations – The National Troopers Coalition, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, National Sheriff’s Association, Chicago Police Memorial Foundation and the Jeffrey S. Parola Foundation – represent roughly 125,000 officers, deputies and agents nationwide.

As partners they are promoting the sale of the Spirit of Blue’s blue ribbon holiday wreath honoring and benefitting the law enforcement community. Consumers who purchase the product during the Campaign will be allowed to select which non-profit they would like to see benefitted from the sale and the Foundation will donate a portion of the proceeds accordingly. At the same time, consumers will be asked to nominate a law enforcement agency that they would like to be considered to receive a safety grant award. At the end of the Campaign, the Spirit of Blue Safety Grant Program randomly selects nominated law enforcement agencies to receive a safety grant award. The safety grants will be redeemable exclusively through the consortium of Safety Grant Partners made up of law enforcement equipment brands such as L3-EOTech.

Preliminary statistics through November 2011 released by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, in conjunction with Concerns of Police Survivors, revealed the number of U.S. law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty rose 14% percent over the same period in 2010. Firearm-related deaths reached 55, an increase of 25% from the same period in 2010. The reality of these statistics and the increasing number of underfunded law enforcement agencies across the country fueled the safety grant initiative.

The Spirit of Blue Foundation, along with L3-EOTech, is asking consumers to ‘get in the Spirit of Blue’ this holiday season by purchasing the Spirit of Blue wreath and giving back to the law enforcement community. The wreaths are available for purchase through December 19th and winners of safety grants will be announced in early February 2012. To learn more about the Spirit of Blue campaign, or to order a Spirit of Blue wreath, visit www.spiritofblue.com.

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OUR MISSION

We are dedicated to the enhancement of officer safety and vitality throughout the law enforcement community by promoting public awareness for their protection and fulfilling safety equipment and training needs.

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THE NEED

Over 900,000 law enforcement officers honorably serve the population of the United States - that equates to 1 officer for every 350 citizens. On average, 125 officers are lost and another 15,000 are injured in the line of duty each year. Yet funding for safety equipment and training is dwindling as tax revenues decline. The need for supplemental funding to protect these officers has never been greater.

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