Ribbons Honor Those Who Serve

Mindful of the persistent problems of illegally posted signs, vandalism and the like, police officers patrolling Van Nuys this week didn’t hesitate to move in when they saw Flip Smith tying objects to a light pole.

An officer motioned for Smith, a Van Nuys businessman, anti-crime activist and head of a business organization, to come over to the patrol car and explain himself.

But the officers discovered that Smith was actually in the middle of attaching about 400 blue ribbons to poles along Van Nuys and Sepulveda boulevards--in their honor.

“They didn’t even know this day is for them,” Smith said with a good-natured chuckle. “The program is just getting off the ground, so I guess I’m not surprised.”

The ribbons were put up Thursday in honor of Friday’s first-ever citywide Police Appreciation Day, and they are scheduled to stay for about a week.

Civilian passersby also questioned Smith about the ribbons.

“Some people came by and said, ‘Hey, why are you putting those up for these guys? They’re no good,’ ” Smith said. “But then, some others came along and expressed some support.”

Smith and other volunteers solicited donations to pay for the ribbons, which cost 85 cents apiece. He predicted the ribbons, and the day itself, will have a higher profile in succeeding years.