Newport Beach : Police Give Precious Gift to Officer: Time

Newport Beach police have donated more than 1,500 hours of their own vacation time and overtime to a fellow officer whose wife was stricken with brain cancer. The donations will allow Officer Bob Rivers, 37, to spend more time with his wife, Sheri, and their two children.

“We wanted to do something for the family so they could share time together,” said Sgt. Andy Gonis. “We hope this helps them.”

Sheri Rivers developed breast cancer in 1986 and has been battling the disease ever since. In 1992, she developed lung cancer but was treated successfully with a bone marrow transplant. Last year the cancer recurred, this time in her brain and liver.

“To be told that her life is slipping away is not as hard for Sheri to tolerate as to face the realization that she cannot continue the wonderful job that she has done in raising our children,” Bob Rivers said in an open letter to the Police Department.

When colleagues learned of the couple’s situation, they worked Bob Rivers’ overnight patrol shift for several months. Eventually, they developed a personal leave “time bank” that allows officers to donate their vacation time and overtime to Rivers.

Rivers worked for the department for nearly a decade in the 1980s before leaving to earn a law degree. He returned to the department about two years ago. Because of his brief tenure, he has accumulated little paid leave.

Without the donations, Rivers would receive no pay for the time off he is spending with his family, Gonis said.

In the letter, Rivers said his family was moved by the generosity of the officers, whom he described as an “extended family.”

“We can never express our gratitude enough for the selfless and caring contributions that the Newport Beach Police Department has given us,” Rivers wrote. “Our family was deeply moved by this compassionate display by the men and women I work with every day.”