First responders in spotlight

October 6, 2011

The public is invited to Law Enforce-ment Appreciation Day at the Bishop City Park on Saturday and Fire Prevention Week activities at Kmart in Bishop Saturday and Sunday. Free safety gear and information will be available at both locations. File photo

This month and particularly this Saturday is being dedicated to appreciating first responders and law enforcement, as well as putting public safety in the spotlight.
October is National Fire Safety Month, the week of Oct. 9-15 is Fire Prevention Week and Saturday is being called Law Enforcement Appreciation Day by organizers in Bishop who have planned a weekend of fun at the Bishop City Park and at the Kmart store and parking lot.
The Bishop Police Department along with the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department will be at the Bishop City Park from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday for Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Officials will have informational booths for senior citizens and kids including Halloween and senior safety tips, free bike registration, a rubber ducky race, a dunking booth and equipment like the Sheriff’s Department armored vehicle and PD’s DUI trailer on display.
The law enforcement event is being organized by Bishop Police Chief Chris Carter.
“It’s an opportunity for the public to come out and shake hands with some of the officers,” BPD Chief Chris Carter told the Bishop City Council at a meeting in September. “And, it will be a chance for the officers to meet the folks they serve.”
Pam Galvin of the BPD said there will be on-site Children ID Kits, sponsored by the Masonic Lodge, along with bicycle registration and food. Galvin explained the department will also be recruiting volunteers to help with day-to-day operations at the department. She said all are welcome to volunteer, from high school seniors to adult.
The department is also selling T-shirts at its West Line Street headquarters and at Saturday’s event to benefit the K-9 unit Xray and equipment and training.
Xray’s fundraiser will include a 50/50 raffle and a rubber ducky derby. Tickets and duckies are available at the Bishop Police Department. The race starts at 1:30.
Carter added that there will be a dunking booth featuring local officers in the dunk chair. “You never know who might show up.”
City Mayor and life-long Bishop resident Laura Smith said she could not remember a time when the public image of the local department has been so positive.
“The community image has improved dramatically,” Smith said, adding that she believes young people are more trusting of law enforcement than ever before as well.
Smith added she knew the morale at the department was high.
“The bottom line is the public feels safe,” Smith said.
Law Enforcement Appreciation Day will be observed in conjunction with National Fire Safety Month and an event at Kmart Saturday and Sunday.
Brandon Sube, Loss Prevention manager at Kmart and Safety Week coordinator, said the parking lot and the store will be hopping this weekend. Along with hosting the Safety Week observance, Kmart will be holding a canned food drive for the Salvation Army as well as helping Wild Iris boost publicity for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
There will be equipment and vehicles on display from the BPD, the Bishop Volunteer Fire Department and the California Highway Patrol.
There will also be booths from Wild Iris and the Salvation Army.
There will also be plenty of information and equipment displays designed to help people stay safe, Sube said. There will be smoke detector and fire extinguisher demonstrations and information on how they work.