Mary Hilton, Wife of Officer Matthew Hilton May 22, 2015 10:55

Posted by Severin Erickson

I came to know about the Thin Blue Line when my husband, Officer Matthew Hilton of Lathrup Village Police Department, was killed in action serving in Afghanistan with the Michigan Army National Guard. 

The Thin Blue Line helped me more than I ever thought.  I have worked in law enforcement support for several years and have heard of the TBL but, didn’t know how much they help the law enforcement community.  They provided me with all the information I needed to apply for benefits and also advised me on other information that I was unaware of. 

The TBL also helped me with the worst part of loosing a loved one, the emotional issues.  The fact is, being a police officer is a very dangerous job and because my husband was both a police officer and a soldier, he was continuously risking his life for others.  The TBL is unfortunately familiar with the risk and hardships of the police officer and their families.  When I was confronted with the most difficult event of my life the TBL was there to give me emotional support through counseling and shared experiences.  I was touched by the sense of care and heart felt compassion that I felt.  The TBL kept up with my progress by continuous calls and emails.  I also feel that volunteering with the Thin Blue Line and helping others through my experiences will eventually lead to my healing.