Meet Crystal Ienni, Founder of Peace Officer Wives of California Inc., also known as Faith.Wife.Hero. Crystal is married to her Hero and is a mother to 1 stunning son and 2 vibrant girls. Crystal is an author with Law Enforcement Today, Speaker, Personal life and Mental Health consultant, certified Peer Support Leader, volunteer junkie, and avid foodie hunter who Yelps her way to the best-known restaurants and destinations. Crystal is an advocate for healthy marriages and law enforcement homes. Crystal takes her role as wife and mother seriously and finds it a joy to serve her family. She is a seasoned law enforcement wife as her Hero has had the opportunity to go through an array of detailed assignments in his career. Crystal is passionate about sharing her personal journey in hope of it bringing encouragement to other peace officer wives. She is a firm believer that prayer changes things and people. RV camping, cuddles with her Standard Poodles, chocolate, extra hot coffee, and motorcycle rides with her hero are some of her favorite things. It brings Crystal much joy to serve her non-profit and the peace officer community. 

Meet Michelle Moon, she is the wife of a police officer and stay-at-home mom of three. She is an elementary school teacher and freelance writer with a BA in Psychology and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. A researcher by nature, she was surprised by the lack of educational resources available to law enforcement spouses when it came to effectively supporting their officer and managing a healthy law enforcement family life and marriage. Through experience and research, she developed an interest in critical incident stress management and law enforcement relationships and has learned that support and community are invaluable. She makes herself available to spouses of officers who have experienced critical incidents and seeks to educate and encourage new LEOWs. This led her to write an article for Police One titled “7 tips for supporting a spouse through critical incident stress”. She loves to spend time outdoors at the beach or in the mountains with her family. She enjoys reading, writing, family workouts in the garage gym and visiting with friends over coffee, lots of coffee. She also loves to watch movies and visit eclectic food joints with her husband.

Meet Ivonne Estrada, born & raised in San Jose. Ivonne attended San Jose State University where she majored in Political Science with a Minor in Business Administration. Civic minded and with the spirit of helping others, she began her career working on political campaigns and fundraising for candidates seeking elected office at the City and State levels. Ivonne worked as a staffer at San Jose City Hall, Santa Clara County and for the State Assembly. With the same desire to help others but on a more personal level Ivonne crossed over to Residential Real Estate. She has been a full time active Realtor for 14 years. Her experience and loyal clients give her  the joy of helping generations of families with their selling and purchasing needs. Ivonne is active in her community. She is an active volunteer in Children's Ministry with her church, Morgan Hill Bible and is in the upcoming, 2020 class for Morgan Hill Leadership. She married into the law enforcement family 8 years ago. Her husband has spent 20 years with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office as a Sheriff's Correctional Deputy. They have two daughters who keep them grounded, thankful and blessed. Ivonne enjoys hanging out with her family, creating art and crafting. She finds joy snuggled up with a good book. 

Meet Rebecca Machain, a believer that creative expression can foster healing. She has her Bachelors in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis specializing in special needs families. She also has studied art with an emphasis on clay sculpture with a goal of intermixing art and therapy. She also has studied art history, design, water color, and acrylic painting. Rebecca comes from a family of Law Enforcement and American Veterans. She believes in justice and working to leaving its legacy for future generations. Rebecca believes that when individuals affiliate and connect with others healing and growth are the outcomes. She is a published author, artist, and a certified peer support leader. You can find Rebecca hiking with her Standard Poodle, Diesel, working out at the gym with her fiancée, or in the kitchen baking her famous chocolate chip cookies.

Meet April Katherman-Redgrave, she is an author, speaker, blogger, and founder of Beauty for Our Ashes Ministry. As the surviving widow of fallen San Jose Police Motors Officer Michael J. Katherman, April experienced unimaginable brokenness and despair but also witnessed how God redeemed a terrible situation into one of great beauty and joy. Once a school teacher and aspiring educational administrator, April now writes and speaks to encourage law enforcement, widows, the grieving, blended families, and finding love after loss. April loves to watch her sons play basketball. Traveling, writing, and being outdoors with her family brings her joy. She is always up for a good bacon cheeseburger and an ice cold cider beer. 

More Info to come....

Meet Carol Crawley,  a wife of a police officer and mother of Five. Carol recognized the importance of staying home and raising her children. She dedicated most of her married life to attending to her home and family. After hearing Gods call for her to counsel others, she began her education journey at Western Seminary studying mental health. With her dedication, she earned her Masters degree in Marriage and Family therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling. Carol continues to serve the community and those around her by using her gifts for ministry. Finding her niche with law enforcement couples, Carol has further found a calling to counsel and serve the military and first responders along with their families. Carol finds relaxation in attending to her garden, enjoys moving to the beat while dancing, and spending time with family and friends. 

Meet Correctional Sergeant Vanessa Melendez. She is employed at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Currently she participates as a Peer Support Member, a CDCR Pink Patch Project advocate and aids in their Female Recruitment Campaign. Vanessa is married to her best friend who is also a law enforcement officer at CDCR. With her personal perspective as a wife to a Peace Officer and her vantage point of being a Peace Officer herself, she brings to the table insights that benefit our Peace Officer community. Vanessa brings volunteering to a whole new level as she actively mentors to teens, speaking to them about her career journey, and through Big Brothers Big Sisters, which has become an important part of her life. Vanessa enjoys riding her motorcycle, skydiving, spending time with her husband, kids, and tickling her Frenchie's bellies. 

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Meet Elda "Cookie" Marchese, a Retired Fire Engineer. She served 18 years with the fire service, is a mother of 2 and is married to retired Detective Sergeant Thomas Marchese. Thomas is the Director and Cinematographer of the documentary film "Fallen". Both Cookie and Thomas worked in the same city and have responded to the same incidents throughout the years of their career. Cookie has a unique perspective of being a first responder and being a law enforcement officer's wife. She has seen the first hand threats her husband faced everyday alongside the threats she faced throughout her career. Cookie has a great passion in sharing her story of recovering and rebuilding her life after retirement. You can find Cookie at Disneyland, at the gym getting her work out on, traveling the world, or meeting up with her friends for lunch.