Helping our First Responders
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Pictured: Chuck Rodrigues, Worthy Patron; Kris Gardner, Worthy Matron; Sgt. Cory Woodward, PAR Unit Supervisor; Officer Dan Struck; Officer Nate Powles |
The Council Bluffs Chapter #441 Order of the Eastern Star presented a $1,925.39 check to the Council Bluffs Police Department Police Area Representatives (PAR) Unit for the purchase of new equipment. Sgt. Cory Woodward, PAR Supervisor accepted the check on behalf of the Council Bluffs Police Department. The money will be used to purchase a ballistic shield and breaching equipment.
The PAR Unit is a unit within the police department that deals with the quality of life issues within the city. They cover a wide variety of issues, neighbors arguing over parking issues to low end drug dealers. They also assist other city departments such as; buildings, health, and animal control. They found a need for this equipment to assist in their work. The shield would be used when the PAR unit assists the Narcotics Division on their search warrants and when dealing with barricaded subjects or other high risks calls. The breaching equipment will be used when the PAR Unit performs search warrants, which mainly involve drugs, when assisting animal control with their search warrants in vacant houses where pets are abandoned and with the building department search warrants on vacant houses where vagrants may be living.
“Our members are honored to be able to help support of first responders” said Kris Gardner, Council Bluffs Chapter Worthy Matron during a presentation that followed a dinner that was attended by chapter members and members of the PAR Unit. The chapter used funds raised from their monthly spaghetti dinners. The funds from these dinners, which are open to the public, have been used to help local charities and support the chapter. One of the Eastern Star International Projects is to “Support of First Responders” and when asked the Chapter felt that this was an excellent opportunity to support our local police department.