Who We Are
The Shield is an organization seeking to serve the families of officers critically injured or killed in the line of duty within the Ohio counties of Hamilton, Butler, Warren, and Clermont by providing them with immediate emergency funds and resources. This includes transportation for the family, lodging, and other considerations such as salary compensation and costs unconsidered by Medicare or life insurance.
We want two things:
- To be able to provide for all of the necessary emergency costs to officers and their families
- To be able to provide a substantial portion of the money the second there is a need.
Our benefits coordinator has access to $15,000 per family to offer on the spot, without any red tape or board meetings. If the need is greater, our directors will make a decision on how to help.
How We Started
The Shield started in the middle of a crisis. An officer had been killed in the line of duty, and his family couldn’t stay in town to deal with the loss without support. Sensing the need for action, the Hamilton County Association of Chiefs of Police each pledged to donate $100 to start a fund for the officer’s needs. The Shield had begun, in the form of the “One Hundred Club” that expanded to all Hamilton County Police departments and then to nearby counties in Ohio.
We at The Shield believe that we have no business asking anyone to contribute to our fund unless we have shown by our own sacrifices that we think it is a worthy cause. Since its beginnings in the “One Hundred Club”, The Shield has grown from the inside out. What started with the Hamilton County Police Chiefs (many of whom are retired) has expanded to officers willing to take a paycheck deduction to support of the families of their fellow officers. We are continuing to spread the word through all levels of the policing in greater Cincinnati, and are going out into the community to find businesses and individuals who want to partner with us in meeting this need.
What's Next
We hope to expand The Shield into the surrounding counties in Indiana and Kentucky, within the Cincinnati Tri-state area.
Our concern is local, but we hope to be an inspiration for organizations throughout the country to meet this need, just as we have been inspired by others (such as the Cleveland Bluecoats).
Our “business model” is for everyone who gives to give because they see a need in the community and an opportunity to help.
Our Board
Board of Directors
Chief Scott Snow
President
Chief Scott Snow serves currently as the Ranger Chief at Great Parks of Cincinnati and is the president of The Shield. He has been a member of law enforcement for over 30 years.
Chief Snow believes in servant leadership and setting the best example he can for those around him. He supports The Shield because should an officer fall in the line of duty, they can rest assured that The Shield will stand behind the family and provide the support they need.
Sgt. Tim Holloway
Vice President
Chief Rich Wallace
Treasurer
Chief Scott Gaviglia
Secretary
Sgt. Tim Holloway
Vice President
Chief Rich Wallace
Treasurer
Chief Scott Gaviglia
Secretary
Chief Rick Hines
Benefits Coordinator
Chief Richard D. Hines is The Shield’s benefits coordinator and Mariemont’s Chief of Police. Serving in the police force is important to Chief Hines because he feels it gives him an opportunity to give back to the community.
Chief Hines has always enjoyed helping people, and he considers his job a rewarding profession. For Chief Hines, The Shield represents a symbol of protection. He says the organization functions to ease the pain of financial loss or burden to those in need.
Trustees
Chief John "Satch" Coletta
Retired
Chief John “Satch” Coletta currently served for 32 years as an officer for the Delhi Township police department. In the 1970s Chief Coletta’s friend, John Bechtol, was killed in the line of duty. Bechtol and Coletta had been next-door neighbors, and they attended the police academy together.
Although The Shield wasn’t around in 1970, Coletta is sure his widow and son could have used immediate financial help.
Chief Michael Laage
Retired
Chief Michael E. Laage served 12 years as Springdale’s police chief. Serving in the police force is important to Chief Laage because he feels he has fostered a sense of trust in his community. He says he has always tried to treat everyone with respect an in a professional manner.
As one of the founding chiefs of the organization, Chief Laage holds The Shield in high regards. He hopes that The Shield continues to grow with the support of communities and those within the police force.
Captain Richard Schmalz
Retired
Captain Richard Schmalz is a retired police captain for the Cincinnati Police Department who has served with the department for 45 years. During his time, he was heavily involved with committees for the police department, including the Police Executive Leadership College Alumni board and served as past president and current board member of the Hamilton County Police Association.
Captain Schmalz likes the tight-knit feel of the police community, and he calls it a brotherhood. He supports The Shield because it provides a support system for a lot of the smaller departments by providing revenue where they may not be able to generate it themselves.
Chief John Monahan
Retired
Major Mike Horton
Retired
Chief John Monahan
Retired
Major Mike Horton
Retired
In Memoriam
Chief Dennis Rees
Founding President
Chief Dennis Michael Rees was one of The Shield’s founding members and was elected its first president. Dennis was an officer who served in all five Cincinnati Police Department divisions from 1972 to 2008, and was the former Chief of the Loveland Police Department. Additionally, he served on the CPD SWAT Team for 20 years.
Chief Rees enjoyed the responsibility of serving his community and protecting the safety of its members. As one of the founding members, Chief Rees took pride in The Shield’s abilities to care for officers and their families. He served as President of The Shield from its inception until 2008. From 2008 until his death in 2018, Chief Rees served on the Board as a Trustee.
