Georgia Board Members
Patricia Newlin Porter
President
Patricia Newlin Porter currently serves as the
President of the Georgia chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), where she has been actively involved as a volunteer since 2008 alongside her late husband, Nate Newlin. She is the surviving mother of Clayton County Police Officer Shawn Newlin, who passed away in the line of duty on March 4, 2007. Over the past 18 years, she has held multiple roles within GA C.O.P.S., supporting survivors through retreats, conferences, trauma training, and organizing social and memorial events. Beyond her chapter leadership, Pat works as a childcare teacher and cherishes her roles as a wife, mother, grandmother, and devoted dog mom. In her free time, she enjoys camping and watching NASCAR, and deeply values the positive difference her involvement with C.O.P.S. makes in the lives of survivors.
Vicki Lindsey
Vice President
Vicki Lindsey serves as the Georgia Chapter vice‑president of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and has been an active board member since 2018. She is the surviving mother of Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Anthony “T.J.” Freeman and was inspired to join the board by the chapter’s support following her loss. Driven by compassion, Vicki dedicates her efforts to helping other survivors realize that they can take one more step, breathe again, and eventually find reasons to smile. In her personal time, she delights in spending moments with her grandchildren and cultivating new friendships. A committed contributor to survivor support, she has attended the C.O.P.S. Parents Retreat annually, completed the Traumas of Law Enforcement training, and participated in multiple C.O.P.S. conferences, including Surviving to Thriving.
Brenda Parker
Treasurer
Brenda G. Parker serves as the Treasurer of the Georgia Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), a role she has held since joining the board in 2000. As the surviving spouse of Deputy Marshal Ronald Alfred Parker of the St. Augustine Beach Police Department, she brings profound personal insight and empathy to her service. In addition to her financial responsibilities, Brenda passionately conducts historical research to honor fallen officers who were never officially recognized—striving to ensure they are remembered, even when no relatives remain. She has extended her advocacy through participation in the C.O.P.S. Spouses Retreat, Trauma of Law Enforcement training, and sessions at National Police Week. Brenda’s unwavering mission is to lend a compassionate hand to others navigating loss, helping them find their way through to the other side.
Ashlee Reynolds
Secretary
Ashlee Reynolds is the Secretary of the Georgia Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors , a role she took on in 2024. She is the surviving spouse of Deputy Jamie Reynolds from the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and brings a deeply personal commitment to supporting others navigating similar grief. Ashlee joined the board to “give back to everyone who helped her during her lowest point” and aims to comfort families enduring the most difficult moments of their lives. With over 12 years of experience in the medical field, she brings compassion and a sense of calm—letting people know they have someone in their corner during traumatic times. In her free time, she loves to cook and encourages survivors to participate in events like the C.O.P.S. Spouses Retreat, where she found healing and connection in shared experience.
Kari Lopez-Crouch
Police Liaison
Surviving co-worker of
Hugo Arango, EOW May 13, 2000 and
Shane Wilson, EOW November 14, 2011
Doraville Police Department
Kari Lopez‑Crouch serves as the Georgia C.O.P.S. Chapter’s Law Enforcement Liaison—a role she assumed in 2020 as the chapter’s first officer to do so. She
is a sergeant and certified Peer Support Counselor with the Doraville Police Department, where she has dedicated over 30 years of service.
Kari is a surviving co‑worker of Investigator Hugo F. Arango and Detective Robert "Shane" Wilson, and she recalls that when Hugo was killed in 2000, law enforcement lacked adequate trauma support, which led her to suffer in silence due to stigma. In her role with Georgia C.O.P.S., she is driven by the desire to both honor fallen colleagues and serve as a guiding light for grieving families and co‑workers. In her personal life, she cherishes her time as a mother and grandmother.
Jessica "Jes" Gasaway
Police Liaison
Surviving co-worker of
Jamie Reynolds, EOW July 21, 2022 and
Marc McIntyre, EOW December 29, 2023
Spalding County Sheriff's Office
Jessica “Jes” Gasaway is a Captain with the Spalding County Sheriff’s Office and serves as a Law Enforcement Liaison for the Georgia Chapter. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and is a certified Peer Support Counselor. Jes is a survivor of the loss of two deputies and dedicates herself to supporting other agencies, families, and co-workers through grief and difficult times. She believes in giving back to help ease others' burdens and walk with them through their darkest moments. In her free time, Jes enjoys family life, crafting, baking, painting, and credits her faith in God for her resilience.
Tammy Gilstrap
Trustee
Tammy Gilstrap is a dedicated volunteer and Trustee for the Georgia Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors. She began her involvement with the chapter in 2010 and joined the board in 2012, serving in various leadership roles, including President, District 3 Coordinator, and Secretary. As the surviving spouse of Oconee County Sheriff's Deputy David Gilstrap, Tammy is deeply committed to supporting fellow survivors. She strives to offer guidance, compassion, and a sense of community to those navigating the aftermath of law enforcement tragedies. In her professional life, Tammy has served as an Executive Assistant with the Oconee County Sheriff's Office for over three decades. Outside of her service, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandson, tending to her garden, and baking.
Bennett Norris
Trustee
Bennett Norris is a Trustee of the Georgia Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors, serving as a parent survivor after the line‑of‑duty death of his son, Deputy Michael Andrew Norris of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Since 2015, he has been actively supporting the chapter and joined its board in 2025. He is currently spearheading a payroll deduction initiative to raise sustainable funding for GA C.O.P.S., aiming to expand vital survivor support services. Bennett explains that his motivation for joining the board stems from a desire to help others who have lost loved ones in the line of duty and to secure the chapter's financial future. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor pursuits such as deer and dove hunting, target shooting, and fishing, and regularly attends events like the C.O.P.S. Parents Retreat and National Police Week.