Katrina Relief
By Paul Schweizer
In the wake of the largest natural disaster which has ever struck our nation, people all over this great country of ours have banded together to help out total strangers. This is so typical of Americans. We struggle through our everyday lives yet we always find someway to help others. First responders, Police Fire and EMS work daily to save lives and help other people. Who helps out the first responders when they need assistance? We do.
Last week FOP 614 Auxiliary President Anita Simkins began making calls trying to find out how best we could direct our efforts. Anita came in contact with two Officers in Jackson Mississippi. The two officers in Mississippi that she contacted are with Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Ms. Bail Enforcement. They are delivering items donated from their base of operations in Jackson, Ms. to the affected areas. They are so excited and appreciative of your help. The MS Bureau of Narcotics has given them a 70,000 square foot warehouse to hold and stage the donations. The bureau has also opened their doors to provide sleeping quarters for those that help.
On September the 15th Anita, recently retired Lieutenants Gary Simkins and Mont Taylor, Brad Woolridge and myself went down to 7th and Industry where we loaded a huge amount of surplus items of Police Equipment that was donated by Chief Robert White for our relief effort. When we told the guys in Mississippi that we had a couple hundred sets of body armor they couldnâ?'t believe it. We have riot batons, PR 24s, straight sticks, leather gear etcâ?¦ we need more.
Imagine if you will that on the day of the hurricane if you were working you left your house, sent the wife and kids to a safe place to live with relatives and started working your shift. Imagine two weeks later you are still wearing that same uniform because everything you owned, your house and all your belongings were destroyed.
Here is my plea, my challenge, my hope that you will help. Like most Officers, both retired and active, over the years I have collected quite a bit of extra Police gear. I have extra uniforms that somehow shrunk around the waist area, (darn drycleaners), extra leather gear etcâ?¦ Like most Officers I must be planning on starting my own department someday or something because I know I wonâ?'t need this stuff once I retire. (Many of the items in the property room that Chief White donated where items turned in by Officers that had retired.) What I want you to do are to search your closets, search the garage, look everywhere and find all your extra gear and bring it out to the Lodge. 6204 Price Lane Road, 40229 (502) 968-0117
There are items still needed, i.e., new underwear, socks (entire family) non- perishable foods (breakfast bars, snacks, Gatorade, water, etc.), old uniforms, BDUâ?'s, gun belts, boots/shoes, toiletries, med supplies. We have at least 2 female officers that are pregnant and need maternity clothes and baby items.
Sgt. Mike Shugart is poised and ready to take 21 of the current LMPD recruit class down to help out this weekend. These kids are volunteering to go on their off days. The training academy has a philosophy that encourages community service over and above what we do on the job. I think it is a great idea. The Chiefâ?'s Office is also going to authorize the use of one of LMPDâ?'s busses to take these fine men and women down there. They will be put in charge of the warehouse while the Officers make deliveries to other jurisdictions.
I have given credit to a lot of people in this article, but there are a few more that I need to give special thanks to.
Rick Woolridge and the good folks at Packaging Unlimited who have donated hundreds of boxes for us to use.
Ed Leber of the Louisville Police Officers Credit Union who donated $500.00 and opened a special account for others to donate. The LPOCU is located at 900 West Market Street. (502) 267-2295
My heart goes out to these brave men and women who have carried on and worked above and beyond the call of duty throughout this disaster. I wish we could do more. We are praying for all of you.