The Upper Gwynedd Police Department hosted a Wills for Heroes event on Saturday, October 22, at the township building. Volunteer attorneys helped police, firefighters and other first responders draw up wills and related legal documents at no cost.  Detective Sergeant Scott Clark said he heard about the program and decided to organize a local event because he thought it was a great idea.

“I wasn’t sure what officers had out there, and I felt that we should get these guys in here and get this done in case, God forbid, something was to happen.”

Lawyer Lisa Shearman of Worcester is the Wills for Heroes Coordinator in Bucks and Montgomery Counties.  She said it not only helps the first responders, but also lets the volunteer lawyers thank them for their service and sacrifices.

“It kind of puts a face to the people they know are there if they need them, and they get a chance to sit down and say, ‘We know you’re there, we really appreciate your being there for us, and thank you.’”

Shearman said most first responders don’t like to think about death because they’re in a high-risk line of work, and the volunteer lawyers explain that having a will is better than leaving the family to pick up the pieces after an untimely death.