BOOSTERS DO THEIR BEST TO SUPPORT L.A.'S FINEST.Byline: Theresa Moreau Daily News Staff Writer When residents who live within the LAPD's Devonshire Division threw a spaghetti dinner fund-raiser recently, more than 1,000 people paid $5 apiece to attend. And it wasn't for the food; it was a true-blue display of support for the Los Angeles Police Department "LAPD" and "L.A.P.D." redirect here. For other uses, see LAPD (disambiguation).  This article or section is written like an . . ``It's important to let them know the community as a whole supports them,'' said Northridge resident Kathy Shanley, who attended the fund-raiser this year and last year and intends to go next year. Today thousands of LAPD 1. LAPD - Link Access Procedure on the D channel. 2. LAPD - Los Angeles Police Department. supporters like Shanley will mark Police Appreciation Day by displaying ``Thumbs Up LAPD'' bumper stickers. Other supporters plan to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner around the clock to officers who work at each of the city's stations. Sponsors of the third annual event say residents can signal their support by displaying blue ribbons on trees, and motorists can join in by turning on their headlights during the day. It's all part of a growing citywide effort to boost officer morale and make sure the stations have what they need. The San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. Valley's five police booster clubs gave divisions in their communities nearly $108,000, much of it for equipment including patrol bicycles, vans and computers. Boosters say their success and growing popularity reflect a change in residents' attitudes toward the LAPD, a department that was reviled nationally as brutal and racist for the 1991 beating of Rodney King Rodney Glen King (born April 9, 1965 in Fort Worth, Texas) is an African-American taxicab driver who was beaten by Los Angeles Police Department officers (Laurence Powell, Timothy Wind, Theodore Briseno and Sargent Stacey Koon) after being chased for speeding. in Lake View Terrace and three days of rioting the next year. Even in the Foothill Division, where the King beating took place, there has grown a bond of mutual trust and cooperation. ``Now that we're in community-based policing, the officers realize the public is made up of good people,'' said LAPD Officer Jackie Landtiser of the Foothill Division. ``In turn, the public has come to see us as more friendly, and there's a closeness. The community members and the police work together against the bad guys. ``The department had to look at the way they were training, looked more into working with the community and were forced to look that way when the crisis occurred - and the riots were definitely a crisis situation. It forced people to come together, and fortunately in this situation, it did work for the best.'' For Brenda Mares, president of the Foothill Area Boosters Association, her participation in the group has been a bridge to understanding the police and why they do what they do. ``It's a two-way assistance, because we learn about the work the police officers do,'' Mares said. ``We're there to help the officers, and we give them moral support. But we get a lot back, and they're so appreciative.'' Dollars and morale Five booster groups, one for each Valley police division, have raised $107,673 in the past three years. Perhaps more importantly, these residents are helping to spread the gospel according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the LAPD while pumping up officers' morale. ``All people need to know is how to give and they will - if they're willing to put their money where their mouth is,'' said Becky Leveque, president of Supporters of Law Enforcement in Devonshire, which threw the spaghetti dinner fund-raiser. The Valley's newly appointed commanding officer, Deputy Chief Michael Bostic, has worked across the sprawl of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , but he said the tight-knit Valley communities are unique in their connection to their local police. Bostic was at the spaghetti dinner and was amazed a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. by the turnout. ``They're just so appreciative of the reduction of crime and the increase in their quality of life,'' he said. ``They realize the more they help us, the better we are as police officers, and the more effective we become at what we do.'' This gradual warming to the police is not lost on Xandra Kayden, an adjunct professor of public policy and social research at UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX , who recalls how the department operated under former Police Chief Daryl F. Gates. ``It's only when things get so out of whack whack v. whacked, whack·ing, whacks v.tr. 1. To strike (someone or something) with a sharp blow; slap. 2. Slang To kill deliberately; murder. v.intr. like at the end of Gates' term with the Rodney King beating, and the O.J. Simpson trial when they looked so extraordinarily incompetent, people begin to doubt them,'' Kayden said. ``But overall, the feeling is to trust the police.'' Kayden added that the LAPD's current popularity can be attributed to the opening-up of community policing, which has personalized per·son·al·ize tr.v. per·son·al·ized, per·son·al·iz·ing, per·son·al·iz·es 1. To take (a general remark or characterization) in a personal manner. 2. To attribute human or personal qualities to; personify. the cop on the beat and allowed residents in the community to get to know their local officers. An investment This major shift is what is referred to as ``the face behind the badge,'' said Los Angeles police Sgt. Dennis Zine, vice president of the Police Protective League. ``What we have now is consistency, uniformity, the blending of all police officers with the community because we are a reflection of the community,'' he said. Some boosters see their support simply as an investment in quality of life and commerce. ``The better our police are served, the better they'll serve our community,'' said Ricky Gelb, a member of West Valley PALS for the past six years. ``And if they keep crime down in the Valley, then people will not be afraid to move to or open a business in the Valley.'' Nick Pool, president of East Valley PALS, said the majority of members in his organization are businesspeople who want to give back to the communities they serve and help maintain a link between the community and police. ``PALS is a method they can use to give back to the community to worthwhile causes,'' said Pool, who has been in the organization for nine years. How to join The Foothill Area Boosters Association was formed in 1986 and has a 160 members. A nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. , it raises money for the Foothill police station through membership dues. Last year, FABA FABA Florida Association for Behavior Analysis FABA Functional Analysis By Association (Chang Bioscience, Inc.) donated various goods and services In economics, economic output is divided into physical goods and intangible services. Consumption of goods and services is assumed to produce utility (unless the "good" is a "bad"). It is often used when referring to a Goods and Services Tax. worth $5,820. Anyone interested in joining FABA or making a donation can call (818) 756-8657. The Mid-Valley Community Police Council, which formed in 1979 with 15 members, now has 162 members in its Van Nuys Division booster club. In 1995, the nonprofit organization donated $25,000 to refurbish re·fur·bish tr.v. re·fur·bished, re·fur·bish·ing, re·fur·bish·es To make clean, bright, or fresh again; renovate. re·fur the police station's roll-call room and donated an additional $6,550 that same year for a 1986 GMC GMC See: Guaranteed Mortgage Certificate pickup truck. Last year the club donated $10,450 for various services and supples. Money is raised through the annual Citizens Recognition Luncheon in October and the Cops & Cowboy Barbecue, usually in June or July. Anyone interested in joining the group or making a donation can call (818) 787-2300. East Valley PALS - Police Activity League Supporters - for the Valley's North Hollywood Division formed in 1978 and now has about 100 members. In September 1996, the nonprofit organization donated $26,873 for the purchase of a new Ford van. East Valley PALS raises money through its yearly golf tournament, held in March, and its awards luncheon in October. Anyone interested in joining East Valley PALS or making a donation can call (818) 623-4001. West Valley PALS, which supports the LAPD's West Valley Division, was founded in 1972 and now has 70 paid members. Last year the nonprofit organization donated 20 bicycles, 40 helmets, 20 sets of bicycle gear and rechargeable lights worth a total of $9,980. Money is raised through membership dues. Anyone interested in joining West Valley PALS or making a donation can call (818) 756-8406. SOLID formed in 1991 and is made up of 13 board members and hundreds of volunteers who donate their time at the various fund-raisers for the Devonshire police station. In the past three years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time nonprofit organization has donated more than $23,000 in goods, including 10 bicycles, a 1985 GMC truck, 1985 Chevy van, a sandblaster sand·blast n. 1. a. A blast of air or steam carrying sand at high velocity to etch glass or to clean stone or metal surfaces. b. A machine used to apply such a blast. 2. and trailer. Each year the booster club raises money through its annual pancake pancake, thin, flat cake, made of batter and baked on a griddle or fried in a pan. Pancakes, probably the oldest form of bread, are known in different forms throughout the world. breakfast and spaghetti dinner. Anyone interested in joining SOLID or making a donation can call (818) 832-4742. SUPPORT LAPD Today is Police Appreciation Day, a time to display support for Los Angeles police. Signs of support include hanging blue ribbons, driving with your headlights on and displaying bumper stickers that read, ``Thumbs Up LAPD.'' Motorists can order bumper stickers for $1 apiece by calling (818) 368-1112. They can be bought from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday only at Northridge United Methodist Church United Methodist Church, in the United States, religious body formed by the union in 1968 of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and the Methodist Church (see Methodism). , 9650 Reseda Blvd. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, box PHOTO (1) LAPD Sgt. Julias Stewart jokes with fifth-graders Krysta McKeever, left, and Amanda Keables on Thursday at Danube Avenue Elementary. Michael Owen
(2) Police Officers Kris Stire, left, and Bryan Barnes conduct their two-wheeled patrol along Ventura Boulevard Ventura Boulevard is one of the primary east-west thouroughfares in the San Fernando Valley; as it was originally a part of the El Camino Real (the trail between Spanish missions), Ventura Boulevard is the oldest route in the San Fernando Valley. It was also U.S. in Sherman Oaks. Evan Yee/Daily News Box: Support LAPD |
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