Mayor Don Murphy and Police Chief Tommy Thomas have formed a committee comprised of local churches and business leaders with the goal of retiring the mortgage for fallen officer Philip Davis’s family.

A mortgage retirement fund has been set up at M&F Bank.

Donations may be made at all local branches of M&F Bank.

The committee’s mission is to raise $200,000 by January 31, 2010.

Officer Davis was killed in the line of duty, leaving behind a wife and two small children.