Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) is a non-profit organization that offers assistance to law enforcement agencies on how to respond to the loss of a law enforcement member.

This is a service all too familiar locally, where many still feel and will always feel the pain associated with the killings of St. John the Baptist Parish deputies Brandon Nielsen and Jeremy Triche. They were shot and killed in LaPlace two years ago while investigating an earlier shooting by members of a domestic terrorist group known as the Sovereign Citizens.

“Being a police officer was more than just a job to Jeremy,” Misty Triche, Jeremy’s widow, told L’OBSERVATEUR last month. “It was almost like he was born to be a police officer. He truly loved what he did and wanted to make a difference.”

Thankfully for our community, Jeremy Triche and Brandon Nielsen made a difference and are not forgotten. They are still making an impact, pretty impressive for a couple of men who were happy to wear a badge.

The Brandon J. Nielsen Memorial Foundation will hold the inaugural “Makin’ It Do What It Do” Motorcycle Ride and Car Show Sept. 27 at the St. John Community Center to support the local law enforcement community, specifically C.O.P.S.

The foundation was established by Steve and Wendy Nielsen, Brandon’s parents.

“C.O.P.S. not only reaches out to the wife or husband of the family (when an officer passes) but to parents, in-laws, brothers and sisters,” Steve Nielsen, Brandon’s dad, said.

“They act as grief counselors, people that can offer the perspective of, ‘I’ve been in your shoes.’”

Brandon Nielsen had a well-known love of motorcycles, evidenced by his time volunteering to do police department Harley Davidson maintenance and providing escort for the Harley for Horses fundraiser.

On Sept. 9, L’OBSERVATEUR posted a photo of Brandon on its Facebook page alerting readers to a story the following day about the car show. As of Monday this week, it had been viewed over 4,000 times, shared 35 times and liked 83 times, extremely strong numbers for a post without a link.

It’s obvious Brandon Nielsen and Jeremy Triche are still loved in this community, and many neighbors and friends are ready to support their passions and salute their services in as many ways as possible.

The motorcycle ride and car show next week is just another opportunity to keep these good men in our hearts while giving something back to those continuing to serve in law enforcement.

Registration for the event is from 8 to 10 a.m. Sept. 27. The ride starts at 10 a.m.

From noon to 4 p.m. there will be a catered lunch and live music by The Flashback Chameleons. There will also be a K-9 demonstration, a fingerprint “crime lab” demonstration for children to explore and a car show. While to ride, one must register beforehand, the car show is free for spectators to attend. Those interested in pre-registering may do so at makingitdowhatitdo.org.