A fund established to help the families of fallen first responders will be available in Pettis County should such a tragedy occur.

The Surviving Spouse and Family Endowment or SAFE Fund was recently extended to Pettis County with the help of Operation Freedom Exchange. Sedalia Mayor Andrew Dawson says the operation raised the funds to make Pettis County the seventh county in Missouri to join the fund.

The endowment will provide $40,000 to a surviving spouse and family within 48 hours of a line-of-duty death involving a local law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency services personnel. SAFE was established by the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission and supports families in 13 counties, including families in Clinton, St Joseph and Topeka.

Click here to learn more about the SAFE Fund.