Louisville Metro Police Foundation celebrates 20 years of supporting officers

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- For 20 years, the Louisville Metro Police Foundation has been more than a fundraising arm for the department. It’s become a lifeline for officers and their families when tragedy strikes and crisis looms.

The foundation sprang to life after the 2004 line-of-duty death of Officer Peter Grignon. His widow, Rebecca Grignon Reker, recalls arriving at the hospital to “a sea of blue” — dozens of officers who came to console her and honor her husband’s service.

“When I stepped out into the hallway and saw the sea of blue, those officers who didn’t even necessarily know Peter personally came to support, came to give blood, came to show they cared,” said Grignon Reker, now executive director of the foundation.

Under Grignon Reker’s leadership since 2023, the foundation has expanded its officer-in-distress fund, providing confidential grants to officers facing unexpected financial hardships. This year’s 20th-anniversary fundraising goal: $500,000 by December.

“We can’t bring people back. We can’t heal people, but we can sure take care of you,” Grignon Reker said. “We can show you how much the community appreciates what you and your loved ones do.”

Wellness programs, training, equipment and emergency assistance have all been funded by the foundation’s millions in donations. Wellness Officer Curtis Calhoun, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and multiple internal injuries in a 2006 car accident, credits the foundation with saving his home and his peace of mind.

“Our house went into basically foreclosure. The foundation stepped in and helped my wife and me get through that situation, because it was financially very stressful,” Calhoun said. “I was halfway in and outside the car — got thrown through the windshield.”

Calhoun later rejoined the department and now serves on LMPD’s wellness unit. He says officers are reluctant to ask for help, but the foundation isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions.

“They actually ask, ‘What do you need? Do your kids need anything? What does your wife need?’ ” he said. “It makes you feel loved, and it makes you feel part of a family.”

Today’s officers confront dangers and stresses most of us never see. Whether it’s mental-health support for post-traumatic stress or financial aid after a home fire, the foundation is there to soften life’s hardest blows.

“Heroes like Nick Wilt, Brandon Haley, people that go out there every single night into the dark seeing things that we never want to see,” Grignon Reker said. “These officers need us. They have our back. We need to have theirs.”

To learn more about the foundation or to donate, click here.

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