Bellevue Police Officers’ Guild statement regarding the Officer injured during the Vice Presidential motorcade.

UPDATE:

The Bellevue Police Officers' Guild is profoundly grateful for our community’s ongoing support, and we want to thank the media for their interest in Officer Kevin Bereta’s challenging predicament. For those unfamiliar with the situation,  Kevin sustained catastrophic injuries while on duty in August 2023.  Though Kevin has been making steady and impressive progress with his healing and recovery, the City of Bellevue has terminated Kevin’s supplemental financial support and medical/dental/vision benefits for himself, his wife, and three young children.

Since becoming aware of the issue of Kevin having his benefits removed, we have continuously worked to find a solution with the Police Department and the City. While no solution has been made available, we urge the City to pursue options and opportunities to overcome this terrible situation for Kevin and his family.

Kevin’s extensive injuries are far from the “typical circumstances” of an employee injured at work. We believe that the City has the ability to find a solution to take care of Kevin in a way that demonstrates a “Commitment to Employees” by understanding the hazardous nature of his job and the difficulties he faces in this unique circumstance of recovery from such a devastating on-duty injury.

As law enforcement officers, we are willing to sacrifice everything for those we serve. It is incredibly hurtful to all Bellevue officers to watch Kevin, who has suffered such a severe on-duty injury, be treated in such a nonchalant manner. It appears the City does not take his unique circumstances as a law enforcement officer into consideration. Kevin has worked incredibly hard and has made significant progress with an end goal to return to full duty with the Bellevue Police Department. The City expects law enforcement officers to sacrifice their well-being, their family time, and even their lives to serve and protect. We expect the City leadership to fully embrace its own core value of "Commitment to Employees." 

We are fully committed to assisting Kevin and his family in every possible way during this challenging time. We are grateful to the Chief of Police and the Bellevue Police Foundation, the Bellevue Police Management Association, and the Bellevue Police Benevolent Association for all the support they have provided to Kevin and his family.

Should you wish to contribute towards aiding Officer Bereta’s recovery and assisting with associated expenses, we welcome your donations through the Bellevue Police Foundation. 100% of the funds will be used to support Officer Bereta.

Donation Link: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/BellevuePoliceFoundation_1/Officer_Bereta.html

As an alternative, you may mail a check to:

Bellevue Police Foundation c/o Bereta Recovery Fund

P.O. Box 1543, Bellevue WA, 98009 

The Bellevue Police Foundation is an independent non-profit corporation registered within the State of Washington and recognized by the IRS as a 501[c](3) tax-exempt charitable organization

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The Bellevue Police Officers’ Guild (BPOG) extends its collective support to Officer Kevin Bereta, a valued member of our ranks, who was injured during the Vice Presidential motorcade on 8/15/23. BPOG is fully committed to assisting Officer Bereta and his family in every possible way during this challenging time. We are profoundly grateful for the community’s support.

To receive updates on Officer Bereta’s condition, please refer to the official statements released by the Bellevue Police Department.