Car Show to Benefit Brotherhood of the Fallen

Families of police officers killed in the line of duty have so many things on their minds, they are overjoyed when they see uniformed personnel from outside their town come to their loved one’s funerals. 

Thanks in part to the Fort Worth Chapter of the non-profit organization called the Brotherhood of the Fallen, they don’t have to go it alone. 

Since it started in 2016, the chapter is among those who send members to funerals across the country. Typically, at least two officers volunteer their time with their travel expenses paid through fund-raising events like the organization’s first car show on May 27. It will be held from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Heritage Church of Christ in Fort Worth.

“We don’t do this for publicity. We want it for the family off the record,” said Derrick Simpson, one of four founding members and current deputy secretary and sergeant of arms of the Fort Worth chapter. He is a neighborhood officer with the Fort Worth Police Department. 

“We show up with the other chapters as one big unit. We meet with the family in private. Usually, the police officer is the main breadwinner of the family so each chapter makes a donation with how much depending on the size of each chapter.”

The Brotherhood of the Fallen began in Chicago in 2010 and now boasts 10 nationwide chapters including Fort Worth and Dallas. 

Simpson estimates the Fort Worth chapter sends members to 35-50 funerals annually including 10-12 he has personally attended. 

The last funeral Simpson and 15 others attended was in February in Philadelphia for Temple University police officer Christopher Fitzgerald, son of former Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald. 

“When they see us at the funeral home of a small town they wonder ‘what the hell is going on. How did you guys find out about us,’ ” he said. 

The Brotherhood of the Fallen utilizes multiple websites to learn about its fallen brethren.

The car show will feature multiple types of vehicles including classic, muscle, and custom cars and trucks. Owners can display their vehicles for $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the show. The public is invited to view the vehicles for free. Simpson said the goal is for at least 300 owners to register. 

For more information visit their website.