--Tragedy and Triumph---

Corporal Bethel was shot in the line of duty and paralyzed in September of 2001.  Toby has been coping with his injury, both physically and mentally for 17 years and sharing his story at churches and other community organization,  and visits police academies to provide an opportunity for cadets to critique and analyze the actions that led to a near-fatal injury to keep our future first responders safer in the line of duty.  Earlier this year, Toby was sworn into Florence Police Department as an honorary corporal and has continued to serve his community with the same passion and commitment he had two decades ago. 

Toby was generously gifted a  handicap-accessible 1999 van in 2012, complete with a lift and other accommodations that allowed him to transport himself independently. This van has now reached 300,000 miles and is no longer reliable (unlike Toby). Officers and staff of the Florence Police Department are working hard to raise the money to purchase a new van for Corporal Bethel as a token of our gratitude for all he has done for this community. 

Please help us help this incredible man. We owe him so much more, but this is the least we can do.