Giving back to the community
The Pacifica Police Officers' Association (POA) hosted a holiday food drive this month to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.
Second Harvest Food Bank, a non-profit organization, is the primary source of donated, surplus, and purchased food for non-profit agencies in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, according to the non-profit's website.
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From Nov. 7 through Nov. 22, the POA encouraged Pacifica residents to drop-off non-perishable food items to a collection barrel at the Pacifica Police Department.
A main event of the food drive was the hosting of a collection point at Linda Mar Safeway on Nov. 13, where POA members received donations from passers-by.
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"We filled up a barrel and a half in five hours," said Josh McFall, Vice-President of the Pacifica Police Officers' Association.
The POA has had to come up with alternative ways to give back to the community, due to the City of Pacifica's restricted budget.
Though the food drive was a new experience for POA members, McFall said many are "happy and open" to the idea of fundraising.
"Our intent is to start hosting a number of community events," he said.
San Mateo County Deputy Sheriff's Association also hosted a fundraising event, November 27, to benefit youth sports in San Mateo County.
100 percent of the event's proceeds will go to Pacifica Little League, Half Moon Bay Little League, San Carlos Little League and San Bruno American Legion Baseball.
Highlights of "A Benefit Basketball Extravaganza" included a basketball game between deputies and former 49ers football players, as well as a kids zone with bomb unit and K-9 unit demonstrations.
In other news
On Nov. 15, a city official claimed that the ongoing litigation between the City of Pacifica and Teamsters Union 350, which represents Pacifica Police captains, will be dropped. on the Pacifica Police captains' employment contract.
On Nov. 22, City Council approved 4-0, to extend Pacifica Police Chief Jim Saunder's employment contract for six months past his proposed retirement date. City Manager Stephen Rhodes said Chief Saunders is "deeply involved" in the department's effort to merge dispatching services with other cities. Rhodes said the City of Pacifica "wouldn't want to lose that expertise."
