Survivors of Blue Suicide

Survivor Advisory Council

Samantha Poore, National President

Samantha is the surviving spouse of Officer Sean Poore of the California Highway Patrol, EOW 10/23/2018.

Sean and Samantha have 3 incredible children who all miss him dearly.

Sean took his own life while on duty. Since that day, Samantha has never stopped fighting. She has been an advocate for mental health for all, with an emphasis on first responders; this fight also includes honoring first responders who have died by suicide.

Championing a message that says “it’s okay to not be okay,” Samantha hopes to change the stigma on mental health within law enforcement so that one day no person will feel the hopelessness that Sean did; ensuring that no family will have to experience the deep loss she, their children, and many others, now carry.

Samantha.Poore@nationalsbs.org

Debra Downey, Midwest Region

(IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, WI)

Debra is the surviving spouse of retired Trooper Myron Downey of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, EOW 9/29/2020.

After his medical retirement in 2018, Myron and Debra worked to educate first responders about post-traumatic stress disorder and the physical impacts of cumulative PTSD. Since his death, Debra has continued to speak to first responders and their families about the impact of PTSD, advocating for more readily accessible resources for families and to educate agencies on how to better support suicide survivors.

midwest@nationalsbs.org

Jason Gould, Northeast Region

(NH, ME, VT)

Jason is the surviving adult child of Corporal Howard Gould of the Vermont State Police, EOW 7/31/1979.

Howard proudly served as the Captain of the Vermont State Police and was the lead instructor for law enforcement in the state. His passion for law enforcement meant so much to him. If he wasn’t working or with his wife and kids, he could be found in the woods hunting. As a testament to Howard, over 250 officers from 17 different departments gathered at his funeral to honor his life. His son, Jason, who was 7 years old at the time, followed his father’s footsteps into the law enforcement profession in 2004. Since, Jason has become an instructor for CallForBackup, a course, that teaches all first responders about Suicide Awareness and Prevention.

Jason served on the SBS Founding Committee.

northeast@nationalsbs.org eastern@nationalsbs.org

Greg Workman, Southwest Region

(AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, NM, NV, UT)

Greg is a surviving co-worker of Corporal William “Bill” McCoy, III of the Fayette County (KY) Detention Center, EOW 7/15/15.

Greg began working in law enforcement in 2009 for the Kentucky Department of Corrections. In 2011, he was hired as a Corrections Officer for Fayette County Detention Center in Lexington, Kentucky. In 2014, he moved to Alaska and began working as a Juvenile Justice Officer for the state of Alaska. Since 2018, Greg has been an Alaska Adult Probation and Parole Officer.

southwest@nationalsbs.org

Julie Zielinski, Northwest Region

(ID, MT, ND, NE, OR, SD, WA, WY)

Julie is the surviving mother of Matthew Zielinski of the Chelan County (WA) Sheriff's Office, EOW 6/1/2005.

Since 2012 she has been the Washington State C.O.P.S. Suicide Liaison and is associated with the Law Enforcement Survival Institute and the Washington State Rep for the National Police Suicide Foundation.

Julie has spoken before service clubs, schools and churches with a special emphasis on helping suicide survivors especially among the Law Enforcement Community.

Julie is the author of Matt's Last Call: Surviving our Protectors, Second Edition.

Julie served on the SBS Founding Committee.

northwest@nationalsbs.org

Follow us