CLEVELAND — Leo Tully is a man on a mission, a mission to boost the morale of police officers.

“I was inspired by all the things that happened in 2020. The riots, the protest, and you know what really pissed me off was that they burned our police cars right here in Cleveland,” Tully explained.

That’s when Tully decided to join an Adopt a Cop Facebook group, which called for cards to be sent to police officers.
“I went to Walmart and I was looking for books and I couldn’t find anything that thanked the police or other heroes, so I decided to make my own,” Tully explained.

That’s when Tully said Card for Cops was born. Now they design, print and cut about 2,000 cards a month for those who protect and serve.

For Tully, it’s a labor of love. “It makes my day, it’s the wind beneath my wings, it’s my purpose, my purpose in life, it’s what I do,” Tully explained.

Tully mails or personally delivers cards to approximately 50 departments monthly in Northeast Ohio and across the country.

University Circle police officers are among those who receive the monthly card.

“It sends a message that somebody cares, I care, and that means it,” said Chief Tom Wetzel, University Circle Police Department.

Wetzel said this act of kindness goes a long way with the officers. He said three times as many officers die by suicide compared to on-duty deaths.

“For us, these are small acts of love and they really go a long way,” Wetzel said.

Tully gets more from giving than receiving, but he treasures the thank-you cards, pictures and police patches he’s received from grateful officers across the country.

Tully pays for each card itself. But now that the 66-year-old has retired, he said he may have to cut back on the number of cards he sends because they are expensive.

However, the cards he sends will still be filled with love and support not only for police officers, dispatchers and police personnel, but also for firefighters and veterans.

“They’re my heroes,” Tully said.