About The National Fallen Officer Foundation

Sgt. Merlin Lofton is a highly respected 20-year retired veteran of the Dallas Police Department, where he dedicated his career to protecting the most vulnerable communities and strengthening bonds between law enforcement and the public. As Chief Executive Officer and Director of Operations, Sgt. Lofton provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the organization, drawing from decades of frontline experience and community engagement. During his tenure he patrolled some of the city's most challenging neighborhoods, where he apprehended dangerous offenders and became a passionate advocate for at-risk youth. As a leader of the Heroes, Cops, and Kids initiative, he brought national attention to community outreach — even donning a Captain America costume while offering counseling and inspiration to young people in underserved areas. His service has been recognized through the Dallas Police Department's Life Saving Award and the Meritorious Conduct Award, and he remains deeply committed to youth mentorship through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Texas.

Officer Kerri C. Long has been with the Tyler Police Department for over 20 years, serving in Patrol Operations and the Criminal Investigation Division. She is currently assigned to the Investigation and Tactical Unit as a Community Resource Officer, coordinating major public events, community meetings, and direct communication between the police department and its citizens. Kerri serves as an Explorer Advisor mentoring young men and women of the Boy Scouts of America's Explorer Program and assists with safety classes for the women of Tyler, Texas. She sits on the board of the East Texas Crime Prevention Association, is an active member of the East Texas Substance Abuse Coalition, serves on the Fraud Squad with the Better Business Bureau for Tyler, and currently serves as Vice President of the Texas Fallen Officer Foundation.

Ethan Stone is a seasoned digital strategist and full-stack web architect with over two decades of experience designing and managing dynamic online platforms. Since 2001 he has led digital initiatives for political organizations at the local, state, and national levels, and has been a trusted technology partner to Sgt. Tre Pennie since 2016, currently overseeing all web operations for both the National Fallen Officer Foundation and the Texas Fallen Officer Foundation. His skill set spans web development, graphic design, server and database administration, video production, targeted email campaigns, and social media management. Ethan holds a bachelor's degree in Professional Studies from Brigham Young University–Idaho and resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with his wife and three children.

Mark is the Principal Consultant of Monroy CFO Advisory Services LLC, providing fractional CFO services to businesses primarily in the professional service industry. He recently played an instrumental role with a $180 million revenue security/broker-dealer client in preparing and reviewing audited financial statements and quality-of-earnings reports for potential mergers. Formerly the CFO of a 250+ attorney law firm, Mark helps businesses strategically increase profitability, reduce expenses, and improve cash flow, and has led multiple businesses through ERP upgrades and cloud-based financial reporting implementations. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Accounting from the University of Dallas in Irving, Texas.