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Dear Friend,
This is a very difficult email for me to write you.
I know it will take me some time to write this out, I might have to step
away to fight back the tears. I hope you can be patient with me.
You see, this might be the last Christmas my three beautiful
children and I get to spend with my husband and their loving father, Eric,
for a long
time.
That’s Eric,
myself, and our children in this photo, just so you know what we look
like.
Earlier this year, Eric – a Detective for the Kansas City Police
Department – was wrongfully sentenced to prison for 6 years after
defending himself and his partner in the line of duty.
Eric and one of his fellow detectives were pursuing 26-year old Cameron
Lamb – who was erratically and dangerously driving to chase down his
ex-girlfriend and her children.
Eric and his partner followed Lamb to a garage, where Lamb would do the
unthinkable: he raised a firearm and pointed it directly at
Eric’s partner.
In swift action, my husband shot at Lamb, stopping
the threat and saving his partner’s life.
7 months later, when Eric should have been touted as a hero for protecting
our community from dangerous criminals, the local prosecutor would charge
my husband – the loving father of my children – with manslaughter.
And after an exhausting and expensive legal battle, Eric lost.
Our justice system failed Eric.
It failed our children.
And it failed every single police officer who
puts their own life at risk to protect mine and yours.
But this is not God’s plan for Eric. God won’t lock Eric behind
bars and leave my children without a dad.
No – God is giving us the strength to fight and appeal this wrong court
decision to finally clear my good husband’s name.
I thank God everyday that he sent us to the Law Enforcement Legal Defense
Fund, who has graciously helped us through every gut-wrenching minute.
Will
you help our difficult battle to appeal by sending LELDF another generous,
tax-deductible Christmas donation of $35, $50, $100, or
more?
LELDF is a national group fighting on behalf
of wrongly-accused police officers like Eric.
LELDF has helped dozens of innocent cops – and their families – at
their lowest moments.
And now that I’m faced with the reality that Eric could be spending the
next 6 years behind bars, and I’ll be left to raise our three children on
my own, LELDF has stood by our side and is continuing to help us fight for
what’s right: clearing Eric’s name.
As a non-profit organization, they depend solely on generous gifts from
folks like you to defend officers like Eric.
In fact, LELDF must raise over $100,000 this Christmas
season to support my husband Eric and the other important cases they’re
fighting, like Officer Michael Dunn and US Marshall Chad Skaggs.
I truly believe God is using LELDF to answer our prayers. And I pray today
that God will put it on your heart to generously support LELDF’s mission
again.
Would
you give a $35, $50, $100, or more tax-deductible gift
today?
Friend, if I had anywhere else to turn, I
wouldn’t be so bold as to ask for your help.
But Eric and I don’t have the kind of money it takes to pay for lawyers,
expert witnesses, and court fees on our own.
And if we lose this appeal, then this will be the last Christmas Eric gets
to spend with our children for six years.
I simply can’t bear the thought of watching my children grow up without
him.
So, thank you for reading my email. I understand how busy the Christmas
season is – it means so much to me that you sacrificed your time today to
read my update.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Sarah DeValkenaere
DONATE NOW: https://secure.anedot.com/leldf/c11833cbb89a6aaeb00af
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More such officers who sacrifice so much for will face similar fates
unless we speak out and stand up for the brave men and women in blue. The
next time you see a police officer in your community, please thank them for
their service. To read more about our mission or the other Law Enforcement
officers we’re defending, please visit www.leldf.org. And remember
- Blue Lives
Matter!
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