Police effort aimed at children in need: Columbus department’s fundraiser set Saturday

After Columbus Mayor Kristen Brown rides her motorcycle through and around Columbus Saturday to raise money for children’s Christmas presents, she plans to make a stop at City Hall to raise more.

The inaugural Mayor’s Motorcycle Ride will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Columbus City Hall. The Columbus Police Department’s annual CPD and Me event will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, shortly after the mayor returns from the ride.

Entry fees for the ride, along with food and T-shirts available for the public to purchase at the block party, will benefit the Columbus Firemen’s Cheer Fund. The Cheer Fund uses donations to buy toys and gives them to local children during the Christmas season. Last year the organization provided gifts to 1,265 children and gift baskets to 180 elderly.

Raising money for needy children is the goal, but the Columbus police and fire departments hope to entertain and inform local residents along the way.

“It’s kind of like a block party,” said Lt. Matt Myers, spokesperson for the CPD. “We’ve had large crowds in the past. We hope it continues this year.”

Emergency equipment will be on display, and educational packets of information will be dispersed throughout the three-hour block party.

“It’s just a chance for the community to come down and see what their tax dollars are paying for,” Myers said.

Members of the police department’s SWAT team, bomb unit and crime scene division are a few of the local law enforcement divisions expected to be in attendance and lining First Street, south of the City Hall, with educational booths. Food will be available for purchase.

CPD and Me intends to prevent crime, and it’s an offspring of the National Night Out Program, a coast-to-coast effort to prevent crime and drug use. Civic groups, businesses, law enforcement agencies and local officials get involved with the National Night Out Program.

The motorcycle ride is being organized and sponsored by American Bikers Aimed Towards Education.

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