On August 22, 2008, the world for BBO member and Perth Amboy Police Officer Mimi Raji, as she knew it, would be changed forever. Her husband, Tommy, who was also a Perth Amboy Police Officer, was killed in the line of duty by a drunk driver while transporting a prisoner to the Middlesex County Jail. Mimi, who was pregnant with their child at that time, has spent every day of the last ten years, ensuring […]

BBO IS DONE ALLOWING OUR NATION’S LAW ENFORCEMENT TO BE TARGETTED BY CORPORATE ELITIST SMEARS REGARDING POLICE USE OF FORCE. On October 2nd NorthJersey.com published an article on how the Fair Lawn, New Jersey, School District hired armed uniformed Police Officers to patrol their schools. As we are all aware, there has been a national call to better ensure the safety of our nation’s school children in response to recent events. Although school shootings are rare, […]

Since forming in 2014, keeping in line with it’s core mission, Brothers Before Others has spent over $200,000.00 simply sending flower arrangements to every law enforcement line of duty death service in America. To make it more clear for you: since 2014, 569 police officers have been killed in the line of duty. Many of those who were lost, were killed by gunfire; and in some of those cases, unprovoked and assassination-style. As an example: […]

While Brothers Before Others primary mission is to care for police officers and their families, we have often been presented with opportunities to make an impact outside of the law enforcement community. Recently, BBO Founder/President was contacted by his long time friend, Marta Petrocelli, who was looking for some guidance in regards to her son, Aedan. At the age of 8, her son expressed an interest in becoming a police officer and what better person […]

As Brothers Before Others member and retired NYPD Sgt Delia Cuebas put it, “We all deserve to know how much we are loved and appreciated while we are still here.” So it was, yesterday, for NYPD Police Officer Manuel Vargas. Manny, affectionately known as “Monsta” by his friends a family, a reference to his tremendous power lifting size and strength, is currently battling 9/11 related brain cancer at Calvary Hospital in the Bronx. As such, in […]

Since forming in 2014 as a group dedicated to sending flower arrangements to line of duty death services, Brothers Before Others has grown into something so much more. For those within the law enforcement community who would say that the fraternity is dead, well, you’re simply not looking in the right places. BBO Founder/President Michael Burke explains, “What we have become is a home; a place where law enforcement officers can feel safe from judgement, […]

When you consider that the Brothers Before Others team entered in the 2018 New York City Tunnel To Towers 5k consists of over 160 members, many who are traveling from all over the country to run in full uniform on behalf of individuals that were lost in the line of duty, it’s hard to imagine that the team could get even more special. That is, of course, until you meet Zechariah Cartledge. Rather than do […]

Martin Luther King Jr was quoted as saying, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience; But where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” So it is true with Port Authority Police Detective (ret) and BBO member Will Jimeno. Assigned to the Port Authority Bus Terminal Command on 9/11, Will found himself trapped under tons of World Trade Center debris for an excess of […]

Since 2014, Brothers Before Others has been careful to grow its membership slowly. To date, our members consist solely of active or retired law enforcement officers. We are honored and humbled that many of our nation’s heroes have chosen to share their lives, their experiences and their time with other members of this group. Our group is as successful as it is because of the quality of our members. Today, we’d like you to take a few […]

As each anniversary approaches, it’s hard for any American to escape the images of the horrors that played out on 9/11/01. Even 17 years later, for those that lived through that day and lost loved ones and coworkers, finding some measure of personal peace during this time can be a hurdle of epic proportions. One person who is helping countless individuals turn that corner is Brothers Before Others partner, Laurie Tietjen, who founded and heads […]