Hacienda Christmas Project
Citizens got to see a softer side of law enforcement when police officers from Central City Precinct the Airport Bureau visited patients at the Hacienda Health Care Center. Armed with presents and smiles, Santa and his helpers handed out gifts to patients and residents of the facility, which provides services for medically fragile and chronically ill infants, children and young adults in Arizona.The visit is known as the Hacienda Christmas Project. Volunteer Coordinator Tara Ann Buettner says both staff and patients look forward to the visit every year. “They see the police as heroes so having them visit is kind of like having a superstar visit.”
This is the 19th year the Phoenix Police Department has participated in the Christmas project. Officers spend their own money and shop for individuals; ensuring every resident receives a gift. Lieutenant Rob Settembre says, “It’s another side of police officers that we genuinely have in us. You come on this job and you want to do good things for people. It’s not always putting them in jail. It’s not always chasing them up an alley. Police officers have a tendency to want to help people. There’s just no better cause that I can think of than Hacienda.”
Everyone loves getting presents, but looking at all the faces, it’s evident that everyone loved the visitors as much as their gifts. Since there’s no shortage of volunteers, the Phoenix Police Department will continue the Hacienda Christmas Project as long as there are patients who need help. If you’d like to help, log onto their website at www.haciendahealthcare.org.
A high-flying partnership between Phoenix Police and LAFB - 12/05/2008
"When the community joins forces with local and state government, the business sector, and the military, a strong alliance is developed. A partnership is formed.” -- LAFB Fighter Country Partnership
Just ask Phoenix Police Lieutenant William Schemers who works within the department's Drug Enforcement Bureau. Nearly seven years ago Schemers became involved with a unique program that strives to bring the surrounding communities and members of Luke Air Force Base closer together. He was invited to be on their Fighter Country Partnership board of directors as a representative of law enforcement who could offer impartiality during the board"s decision-making issues.
The exchange program works on the same concept as the now familiar Citizen Police Academies that are prevalent in law enforcement agencies throughout the country. When citizens learn firsthand about the inner workings of an agency, they can better understand the needs and challenges that are faced by officers and in turn, become valuable, educated partners who help to keep the community a safer place to live. This concept is the foundation for LAFB’s Fighter Country Partnership. Lieutenant Schemers’ work on the board earned him the title of Honorary Commander, and with it came an opportunity to take an F-16 training flight.
Schemers’ took them up on their offer on Monday, December 1, 2008. It was an all-day event that began with one life-and-death-scenario after another. (You had to really want to do the flight after hearing those lectures!) It was lunchtime. Schemers only downed two power bars because, well, you know why. He had one more briefing before the “big moment” and he took a seat, joined by his wife, Kelly (a patrol officer assigned to Maryvale Precinct), two friends, and a photographer. More life-and-death stuff preceded a hilarious “training video” hosted by a popular comedian.
Then, it was time.
The slideshow photos will tell the rest of the story. It was a truly remarkable experience for Schemers—and, for his sidekicks. Excellent relationships and partnerships were formed that day between the acutely professional staff at LAFB and the excited visitors from the Phoenix Police Department.
*Click the "Play" button to view photos.
In the words of Lieutenant Schemers, “It was a chance of a lifetime! I now have a better appreciation of what our military does and how we can both relate to each other’s work.”
Arizona Police Officer Jennifer Moore Inducted Into IACP/DuPont Kevlar Survivors’ Club - 11/12/08
SAN DIEGO, Calif. Nov. 7, 2008 – The IACP/DuPont Kevlar Survivors’ Club®, an organization dedicated to reducing death and disability among police officers by encouraging the use of personal body armor, will induct City of Phoenix, Ariz., police officer Jennifer P. Moore into its membership during a ceremony at the 115th IACP Annual Conference, which begins Saturday in San Diego.
Officer safety is an issue of paramount importance; however, troubling information released by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) and Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) suggest that far too many police officers continue to be lost in the line of duty. According to these organizations, 2007 was the deadliest year for American law enforcement since 1989, except for 2001 when fatalities rose as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11. While the organizations noted a 41 percent decline in law enforcement fatalities during the first six months of 2008, preliminary data from July 1 - September 30, indicates 44 officer fatalities – a 10 percent increase over the same period last year.
“Since 1987 the Survivor’s Club has recorded more than 3,000 instances of law enforcement officers surviving potentially fatal or disabling injuries because they were protected by body armor,” said IACP President Ronald Ruecker, director of public safety, Sherwood, Ore. “This campaign demonstrates that body armor saves lives, but far too many law enforcement personnel – 40 percent according to our estimates – do not routinely wear this vital protective equipment. Our mission is to ensure that survival stories like Officer Moore’s inspire others to wear vests and encourage more departments to mandate their use.”
On June 28, 2008, Officer Moore and her partner conducted a traffic stop to investigate a vehicle for a license plate violation. The passenger exited the vehicle in violation of the officer’s instructions and became verbally uncooperative. The passenger was instructed to place both hands on his head and, when he did not comply, Officer Moore reached for his left hand and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, the passenger retrieved a handgun that had previously been hidden, firing one round at Officer Moore that passed through her right hand and hit her chest. Officer Moore’s body armor stopped the round. She was treated at a local hospital for her finger injury, but the body armor prevented any further pain, injury or bruising on her chest. “The vest I was wearing saved me from further serious injury,” said Officer Moore. “This experience shows that officers are at risk of serious injury even during routine procedures and that body armor can mean the difference between life and death.”
“Body armor is proven to be effective at enhancing officer safety, and it is imperative that departments throughout the nation encourage its use by their officers,” added Ronald McBride, law enforcement consultant for the IACP/DuPont Kevlar Survivors’ Club®. “The loss of a police officer is always tragic, making it imperative that we do everything we can to stop the risk of fatalities that could have been prevented through the use of a vest.”
The IACP and DuPont co-sponsor the IACP/DuPont Kevlar Survivors’ Club®. Comprised of officers who have survived potentially fatal or disabling injuries through the use of personal body armor, the organization pays tribute to those with the foresight to "Dress for Survival."
The IACP is the world's oldest and largest nonprofit membership organization of police executives, with more than 20,000 members in over 89 different countries. IACP's leadership consists of the operating chief executives of international, federal, state and local agencies of all sizes. The IACP is a leader in police management and executive training and is focused on changing the police culture toward greater safety awareness among the global police community. DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.
The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPontÔ, The miracles of scienceÔ and the IACP/DuPont Kevlar Survivors’ Club® are registered trademarks or trademarks of DuPont or its affiliates.
Miss Wheelchair Arizona, Gina Schuh, Visits Phoenix Police Department
She's happy, she's outgoing and gregarious, she’s assertive, and she’s determined. Gina Schuh, 22, the reigning Miss Wheelchair Arizona, spent a good part of the day learning firsthand about the workings of the Phoenix Police Department. She arrived at police headquarters mid-morning, along with a local television film crew who are video taping a segment on the dynamic young woman whose platform is raising awareness about the misuse and abuse of handicapped parking. After a tour of the new police Crime Lab, she was assisted into a squad car for a ride along with Phoenix Police Officer Wally Olson of the Traffic Bureau.
Just four years ago, at age 18, she was working through culinary school with dreams of becoming a chef, getting a dog and traveling the world. Then, a few months after moving to Tucson from California, she dove headfirst into a pool and broke her neck. After years of surgery and physical therapy, she has limited function in her hands and is paralyzed from the chest down. Being in a wheelchair was never a part of the plan, but she decided to change gears.
"I am proud to be a woman in a wheelchair. I am passionate about my platform and spreading information on disabilities. I have an extremely supportive family and fiancé. I love life and have loved all the opportunities that have presented themselves since my SCI. I am a determined, fun-loving person who is happy with who I am."
Gina now lives in Mesa and is working toward a law school and volunteering with the Mesa Partnership for Children with Special Health Care needs.
Stop Random Gunfire Poster Contest - 11/07/08
Over the past month, school districts within the City of Phoenix participated in the Stop Random Gunfire Poster Contest. This was the second year this contest took place. There were over 1,000 entries, ten times mores entries compared to last year. The entries were narrowed down to 25 finalists. On October 22, 2008, all 25 finalists were honored at City Hall. Mayor Phil Gordon and Chief Harris were present to honor each student. There was a special appearance by Baxter form the Diamondbacks and the Suns Gorilla. The students enjoyed the presentation. Three (3) of the 25 finalists were from the Creighton School District, located in the Squaw Peak Precinct. Each of the finalists received a $50 gift card to Target and a certificate. The grand prize winner received a trip for four to Disneyland. And the grand prize winner was. . . . Denise Bolanos, an 8th grader from Loma Linda School.
Pictured above: Ms. Barbara Damiani, Loma Linda School, Grand Prize Winner Denise Bolanos, and Sgt Lyn Butcher
Pictured in the middle: Sgt. Lyn Butcher, semifinalist Biana Garcia, Squaw Peak Elementary School, SRO from Squaw Peak Elementary School, Officer Tricia Jones
Pictured last: Semifinalist from Loma Linda School: Sgt. Butcher, Gerardo Resendez, 8th grader, and Officer Tricia Jones
Emma Groom Honored by Phoenix Police Museum
The street in front of the Police Museum at 101 S. Central was the site of a little traffic congestion Thursday morning, October 30, 2008. One lane had been blocked off and parked in front was a “scene gawker’s” dream; the new Museum exhibit trailer “wrapped” with depictions of Phoenix policing spanning the decades. Motorists waiting for the light change at Central and Jefferson had plenty of time to gaze at the west side of the trailer that had replicas of police cars from decades gone by to the newer vehicles recently driven by officers.
What they didn’t see was an event that was happening on the other side of the trailer. Eighty-eight year-old Emma Groom had driven in from Peoria at the request of Museum Curator and retired Phoenix Lieutenant Mike Nikolin and was thrilled to see her image and that of her then-partner, Jeanette Reed, depicted in giant size for all passers-by to see. Emma was one of the first four women uniformed police officers who served the Phoenix Police Department. Her more than 20 year career began in 1957 when women officers wore skirts and held to strict standards that banned any makeup or jewelry of any kind. She and her partner worked downtown. When asked by gathered media how she decided to become a police officer, she told of how she and her husband were having lunch one day with (then) Phoenix Police Chief Paul Blubaum. Much to her dismay, her husband grabbed the chief’s hat and put it on her head. Embarrassed, Emma apologized to the chief who turned to her and said, “Why don’t you see me next week about becoming a police officer; we need you out there.”
The rest, as they say, is history.
New Police Chaplain Takes Oath
Pastor Michael Richardson is the newest Police Chaplain serving the men and women of the Phoenix Police Department. Chaplain Richardson, joined by his wife, Carol, along with his son and one of his two daughters, was sworn in by Assistant Chief M.L. “Andy” Anderson in a ceremony held Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at Police Headquarters. Richardson began his police career as a secretary in the Family Investigations Bureau and then served as a sworn officer at Squaw Peak Precinct. Bi-lingual, Pastor Richardson has also served the public as pastor of Grace Community Church in Tempe, AZ, a non-denominational evangelical church. He has a Master’s of Divinity degree and Doctorate of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary. Chaplain Richardson is assigned to the Family Investigations Bureau, Cactus Park Precinct, and Northern Command Station.