Bocce ball tourney to support police relay

Roughly $12,000 was raised on Sunday to help support an annual relay and to possibly reignite the Burbank Police Citizens Academy Program.

The Burbank Police Officers Assn. and the Burbank Police Department Baker to Vegas Committee raised the money during its first Cool Blue Bocce Ball Tournament on Sunday at Lakeside Country Club.

Burbank Police run the annual Baker to Vegas relay race in April in memory of Burbank Police officers Matthew Pavelka, who was killed in the line of duty, and Danny Crawford.

Former Burbank mayor and spokesman for the event, Michael Hastings, said he would like to use any additional funds for the Burbank Police Citizens Academy Program.

The academy, a program similar in structure to Leadership Burbank that lost its funding several years ago, would allow Burbank community members a first-hand view of the inner workings of the department.

Department to test for recruits in April

The Burbank Police Department will hold a police recruit test between 3 and 6 p.m. April 7 at the PickWick Center at 1001 Riverside Dr. in Burbank.

Applicants are encouraged to submit an online application, available on the city’s website, before arriving. Walk-ins are allowed to test and applicants must bring a valid photo identification.

For more information, call the police recruitment office at (818) 238-3234.

Alleged K-mart shooter’s hearing postponed

A preliminary hearing for Jamie Willard, the man accused of shooting two Burbank Police officers outside K-mart on July 2, has been rescheduled for March 16 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

The previously scheduled hearing was vacated after Willard’s attorney requested additional time to prepare.