The Officer Harold L. Vitale Memorial Fund, Inc. was established in 1992 some 7 years after Officer Vitale gave his life protecting his community.
Officer Vitale, a Saugus MA Police Officer, was killed in the line of duty in the early morning hours on June 18, 1985 while attempting to make an arrest. During the arrest he was dragged to his death by the motor vehicle driven by the suspect. He was one of 4 officers killed in Massachusetts that year and 176 nationwide. On average between 140 and 160 officers are killed in the line of duty each year with their families and coworkers left behind to learn how to cope with the tragic loss.
OUR MISSION
The Fund's mission is to continue Officer Vitale's benevolent spirit and assist surviving family members of fallen law enforcement officers through fund raising events that foster goodwill and perpetuate respect, appreciation, and support for law enforcement.
OUR ACTIVITIES Several events are hosted annually in memory of Officer Vitale. Proceeds from these events benefit organizations that provide survivor outreach programs for those who have lost a loved one in a line of duty death. Every June near his anniversary we host a Memorial and Scholarship ceremony at the Officer Vitale Memorial Park in Saugus followed by an annual golf tournament at Ipswich Country Club held the first Monday in August.
WHO WE SERVE Our beneficiaries include the National and Regional Chapters of Concerns for Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (N.L.E.O.M.F.). The Fund also provides scholarships annually to college bound seniors from local area high schools.
COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY A completely volunteer organization, the Vitale family, our Board and Committee members represent a diverse group of professionals and individuals passionate about making a difference. Rather than stand on the sidelines we took the responsibility to get engaged in the communities served by law enforcement and first responders to make the public aware of the dangers of their jobs and the oath they took to run towards danger so that we might all remain safe.
