May 14, 2012--Governor Bob McDonnell unveiled the new design for the Commonwealth Public Safety Memorial and launched the public phase of the fundraising campaign to complete Virginia's Monument to Heroes today. The announcement was made at the memorial site at Darden Garden on Capitol Square in Richmond, and kicks-off two weeks of events promoting the memorial campaign in every region of Virginia. Memorial co-chairs Jerry Kilgore and Terry McAuliffe, and Secretary of Public Safety Marla Decker, joined the governor in unveiling the new design.

For more information on the Commonwealth Public Safety Memorial, click here.

Governor Bob McDonnell has signed legislation that will permit Virginia law enforcement agencies to use state seized/asset forfeiture funds to support the Commonwealth Public Safety Memorial Fund. The new law takes effect July 1 and allows for two years in which agency chiefs may designate support for the Memorial Fund, provided their contribution does not distract from training or operations.

Sheriff Charlie Jett of Stafford became the first law enforcement leader to pledge seized funds for the Memorial Fund when he announced his contribution at the Virginia Sheriff's Association Spring Conference, saying "I can think of no better use of these funds, which once funded criminal operations in our communities, than to support a monument to men and women who died pursuing safety and security in those same communities."

For more information on the use of seized funds to support the Memorial Fund, call VPSF at 804-648-6299 x1004.

Sue Garbarino, widow of Fairfax Police Officer Mike Garbarino, writes, "One organization that came to our aid was Virginia Public Safety Foundation (VPSF), which provides financial assistance to survivors at the time of death, no strings attached. It can take several months for state and federal benefits to be processed, but VPSF bridges the divide. Five years after Mike's death, VPSF is still standing with my family, contributing to my daughter's college expenses. Today, they serve as official administrators of the Memorial Fund on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia, raising money, developing the design and contracting for construction of this monument to heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice."

To read Sue's entire letter, click here.