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Through the Fallen Officer Project, C-SC’s criminal justice program connects students with families of fallen heroes. (Above: C-SC’s Seth McBride speaking to the Ralls County Conservative Committee in mid-February.)

CANTON, Mo. — 91ֱ�� Criminal Justice Senior Lecturer Seth McBride recently presented on the College’s Fallen Officer Project to members of the Ralls County (Missouri) Conservative Committee. During his Feb. 13 presentation, McBride shared how the initiative honors fallen first responders while providing transformative experiential learning opportunities for students.

The Fallen Officer Project is part of Culver-Stockton’s criminal justice coursework and pairs students with the families and legacies of officers and firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty. Through the project, students research the lives and service of fallen heroes, connect with surviving family members, and help ensure their stories and sacrifices are remembered.

McBride was joined in the presentation by two Culver-Stockton criminal justice alumni, Zachary Pfeiffer `18 and Joshua Douglas `21, who now serve as law enforcement officers in northeast Missouri. Together, the group discussed the impact of the project on students, participating families, and the broader law enforcement community.

“The Fallen Officer Project is designed to push students beyond the classroom in a truly immersive, hands-on way,” McBride said. “This is more than a college course; it’s a life course. Through meaningful conversations with fallen hero families, students gain a deeper understanding of the personal and community impact of public service loss while building lasting connections rooted in empathy, professionalism, and respect.”

In a , Pfeiffer said taking part in the course and the Fallen Officer Project when he was a student shaped his perspective as a law enforcement officer. “It’s given me more of a focus as to what I’m doing out there while I’m at work,” he noted.

A key component of the Fallen Officer Project is its public outreach and fundraising efforts. Students organize memorial events, such as honor walks, that pay tribute to officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty, with proceeds supporting organizations that serve fallen hero families.

Funds raised through project initiatives benefit groups such as Supporting Heroes and Whose House Our House, organizations that provide financial assistance, community programming, and long-term support to the loved ones of fallen public-safety professionals.

For more information about C-SC’s criminal justice program, visit /majors/criminal-justice/.