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Jimmy Parker is one of many security officers who have received assistance from the Charitable Organization for Texas Security Officers (COTSO), a nonprofit dedicated to supporting officers injured or killed in the line of duty.
Denise Nicholson, the founder of COTSO, was inspired to start the organization after a personal tragedy. “When my own officer passed away, it was a real eye-opener. I always thought, ‘Oh, it will never happen to me,'” she said. Nicholson’s organization aims to provide financial aid to the families of security officers affected by such incidents.
“People often think, ‘Security officers only get shot in bad neighborhoods.’ My officer got shot at a Subway where a guy was trying to rob it for $50,” Nicholson explained. For her, the officers COTSO helps are more than just names on a spreadsheet; they are family.
Jimmy Parker, a security officer with 33 years of experience in Waco, was shot while patrolling a bingo hall on a golf cart. “A guy came out of the wooded area from the alley and pushed me over in the golf cart, trying to take my handgun away,” Parker recounted. During the struggle, Parker fired two rounds, hitting both the assailant and himself. He was unable to work for a year, during which COTSO provided crucial financial support.
“They helped me a lot with paying my bills, utilities, and even paid off and repaired my car,” Parker said, expressing gratitude for the nonprofit’s support.
Beyond financial assistance, COTSO also focuses on preventative measures, offering survival training classes and distributing bulletproof vests. Since its establishment in 2018, the organization has given away over 500 vests.
Security officers in Texas who need help can apply through the COTSO website. The primary requirement is being a licensed security officer in the state.
