The Howard C. Liebengood Foundation

My husband Howie Liebengood was a 51-year-old, 15-year veteran of U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) who protected the Capitol against assault on January 6, 2021. After suffering through that traumatic event, he worked nearly round the clock for days and ultimately died by suicide on January 9, 2021. Like many first responders, he experienced occupational stress, but I never imagined that work related stress and psychological trauma would lead to the loss of his life.

In fact, the sad truth is that law enforcement officers are 54% more likely to die by suicide than the American population in general. Despite recognition of the psychological toll of policing within the law enforcement community, tremendous disparity still exists in health outcomes and health resource utilization. As a suicide survivor and a physician with a background in public health, I am driven to facilitate systems-based changes to address this health crisis.

We created the Howard C. Liebengood Foundation (HCLF) to close this gap.

Our mission is to improve the health and wellness of law enforcement officers through interdisciplinary collaboration, education, and research. We are committed to identifying opportunities to improve workplace health, access to healthcare, and health outcomes of law enforcement officers, while actively facilitating multifaceted solutions.

Your donation will allow the HCLF to build an infrastructure to support this critical mission, support program development and implementation. Our anticipated programs include:

Annual Howard C. Liebengood Symposium

Host convenings of stakeholders across and within multiple disciplines and sectors to facilitate education, problem solving, and information exchange around specific health and wellness issues impacting the law enforcement community.

Law Enforcement Organizational Transformation and Development Program (OTD)

Immersive, dynamic organizational development program, rooted in best practices and evidence-based research, designed to enhance law enforcement workplace health, wellness, and morale. This program will be made available to all law enforcement department and agencies.

HealthLink Law Enforcement Collaborative

Collaborative network across sectors aimed to increase access to culturally competent medical and mental healthcare providers and healthcare services.

Law Enforcement Health Gap Analysis Program (LEHGA)

Program to identity service, resource, and research gaps in mental and medical

healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Board members, board advisors and volunteers do not receive compensation. All donations will directly support the mission of the HCLF.

The National Fraternal Order of Police Foundation (EIN: 52-1606785) serves as our fiscal sponsor. This ensures that all contributions made are tax-deductible while our IRS application for non-profit status is being processed.