How to help the 2 Phoenix police officers shot, injured in the line of duty

PHOENIX — As Phoenix residents throw their support behind two police officers who were shot in the line of duty earlier this week, one local nonprofit leader shared strategies the community can use to help.

Angela Harrolle, the president and CEO of the 100 Club of Arizona, leads an organization dedicated to providing resources and assistance to first responders and their families.

“We need help more than ever, and so do these two officers and their families,” Harrolle told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News on Thursday.

How to help the two Phoenix police officers who were shot

The shooting took place on Tuesday evening when two officers responded to a report of a vehicle theft in the area of 16th Street and McDowell Road, police said.

The suspect, 41-year-old Saul Bal, knew one of the officers from a prior conviction, police said. Bal allegedly ran away before opening fire, injuring both.

Sgt. Phil Krynsky, a department spokesperson, said one of the officers was released from the hospital as of Wednesday night. The other officer is in critical condition.

There are three big ways to give financial assistance to help the officers.

Firstly, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association (PLEA) said it will give 100% of donations to the injured police officers and their families. Since authorities have not released the names of the two injured officers, donors can put “critical incident Phoenix” in the name field.

Another way to contribute is to donate through the 100 Club, which works closely with first responders and their families.

There’s also the Phoenix Police Foundation, which the department linked to in a press release on the incident. The foundation set up a webpage for anyone wanting to donate.

“I had the honor and privilege to meet with both families at the hospital yesterday, and there’s a journey ahead of them,” Harrolle said. “It’s a significant one.”

What is the 100 Club of Arizona and how does it help police?

Harrolle is intimately familiar with the long road to recovery that begins after a loved one is injured in the line of duty.

Her husband Bruce was a police officer and paramedic for the Arizona Department of Public Safety. He died while on the job in 2008.

“It’s life-changing on every level,” Harrolle said. “That’s a journey I know all too well and it’s one that the 100 Club does walk with these families if need be.”

Her organization supports all police, corrections, probations, parole, firefighters and federal agents who protect and support the citizens of Arizona.

To meet this goal, it provides immediate financial assistance to the family of an officer or firefighter who was injured or killed while working.

“We help in the fact that we respond to a line of duty death with an immediate payment and support of $20,000,” Harrolle said. “However, in this situation, where we have two officers that were injured in the line of duty, we immediately respond with $1,500 each and then we can continue to support them every single month through their rehabilitation, all the way up to $18,000.”

Helping authorities such as the two Phoenix officers who were shot is only possible through community support, she added.

She says there’s been lots of love for Phoenix police officers who were shot

The 100 Club of Arizona also provides safety equipment and scholarships to agencies throughout the state. It also provides mental health and wellness resources to officers and their families.

“Fortunately, people do lean into each other. They mentor each other. Those that are more seasoned in this world of having to navigate long-term injuries really can be very supportive,” Harrolle said.

In fact, many people whose loved ones were injured in the line of duty are now pillars of support in the local public safety network, she said.

“The night of the incident, I was contacted immediately by Chelsea Moldovan,” Harrolle said.

She is married to Tyler Moldovan, a police officer who was shot in the line of duty in 2021. He fought for his life but ultimately recovered, police said.

“She right away said, ‘I want to be there for the spouse. I want to be there to help,'” Harrolle said.

The strong community of first responders and their loved ones can help people feel less alone during hard times, she said.

“It allows them to take a negative situation that happened to them and turn it into something positive,” Harrolle said. “There are others out there that are willing to share their experiences in a positive way.”