Police serve up lunch for sports

Glendale Police officers carried trays of food and poured drinks for a hungry lunch crowd at Damon’s Steakhouse on Wednesday, raising money for the Special Olympics Tri-Valley this summer.

Attendees included local business owners, city officials, residents and others whom officers invited to their Tip-A-Cop event at the restaurant to have a meal and donate money to the sports organization, Officer Sue Shine said.

Restaurant owner Patrick Campbell offered to donate 20% of the lunch hour earnings to the nonprofit organization, which offers sports to mentally-disabled athletes, she said. Officers had to work for their tips and all of their earnings went to the organization, which the police department has supported for several years.

“These are brave people,” Shine said of the athletes, who hail from throughout Southern California. “They are inspiring to us.”

The organization closed its local administrative office in Tarzana in January, moving to Santa Clarita to save money, said Laura Mayo, the organization’s regional director.

The recession, coupled with fewer donations, has made it challenging for the organization to sustain its full program, Mayo said, so organizers had to cut four sports with the least amount of participants.

The organization also cut its regional games, which it held every year, she said.

“It’s tough,” she said.

But officials are planning to bring back the regional games next year.

Fundraising events, such as Tip-A-Cop, are crucial to sustaining the organization, Mayo said.

Officer Blanca Razana poured drinks for members of the Kiwanis Club of Glendale and told them the day’s specials, which included chicken-fried steak and pot roast.

She enjoyed participating in the event because, she said, they were not only raising money for the sports organization, but also getting the chance to connect with the public.

“Citizens get to see you in a new light — a friendly light,” Razana said.

The officers also got an opportunity for residents to talk to them about their concerns, Sgt. Javier Ruiz said.

While sisters Christina and Alisa Kazazian didn’t ask officers any questions, they went to the restaurant to offer support and donate $25 to the organization.

The sisters have gone to the department’s Tip-A-Cop event for four years.

“We come to tip every year,” Christina Kazazian said.

Campbell’s restaurant has hosted the event for two years. He got involved after Milano’s Italian Kitchen, the previous host, closed.

“The best thing about this event is that people have access to our police officers,” he said.

Diners Missy Deus and Brie Griffith were surprised to see the officers serving lunch in order to raise money for the sports organization.

“It’s a very clever way to raise money,” Deus said. “Raising money is always difficult, especially in this economy.”

The event allowed Deus and Griffith to put a face behind the badge.

“It’s just another way they are serving us today,” Griffith said.