‘Whatever they ask for is how we best serve them’: Police Wives Association aids fallen officer’s family
ST. LOUIS – Local police wives are stepping up to support the family of the St. Louis officer who was struck and killed Sunday on Interstate 70.
Members of the St. Louis Police Wives Association rushed to SLU Hospital when they learned the news about St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer David Lee.
"We want to be there to comfort (them) as best we can and know that we're in the long haul for them," STLPWA President Tammara Goldschmidt said.
Goldschmidt says that support can come in many forms.
"In the past, we've provided meals at the funeral service, we've served the meals during the funeral dinner, we provide clothing for the children if needed. Basically, whatever they ask for, is how we best serve them," she said.
For now, the support is coming in the form of prayers.
"We do our best to support people spiritually and emotionally, as we can," she said.
Lee was a husband and father to a son and daughter.
Suspect faces DWI charge in crash that killed St. Louis cop
The St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney's Office has charged 24-year-old Ramon Chavez-Rodriguez for driving drunk and causing the crash that killed Lee.
Court documents indicate that Chavez-Rodriguez "does not have legal status in the United States" and was driving without a valid license.
The St. Louis Police Wives Association has close to 40 active members. Sadly, their work never ends.
The last few years have been especially intense for incidents including the shooting death of SLMPD Officer Tamarris Bohannon in 2020, the death of St. Louis Fire Department Firefighter Ben Polson in 2022, the shootings of Hermann Police Det. Sgt. Mason Griffith and Officer Adam Sullentrup in 2023, in which Griffith did not survive, and now the death of Officer Lee.
"We pray for our officers every day," Goldschmidt said. "We are still praying for Officer Brown, from Ferguson, who is still in the hospital and still fighting for his life. We do our best to support people spiritually and emotionally as we can."
Ferguson Police Officer Travis "TJ" Brown, 36, was knocked to the ground by a Ferguson protestor on the 10th anniversary of Michael Brown's death. His family has spent the past six weeks by his side in the hospital.
The wives do their part to make sure they not only support the families but the departments as well. STLPWA members reach out to the first responders district to provide assistance.
The organization welcomes donations to help keep the mission going. Donations support everything from meals and school supplies for children to clothing for the first responders funeral.
To donate to the St. Louis Police Wives Association,.
