Morgan Hill celebrates National Police Week with full schedule of events

Starting tomorrow and all next week Morgan Hill residents can
contribute to law enforcement efforts by getting a haircut, dining
out at a downtown restaurant or by having coffee with the city’s
police chief.
Starting tomorrow and all next week Morgan Hill residents can contribute to law enforcement efforts by getting a haircut, dining out at a downtown restaurant or by having coffee with the city’s police chief.

National Police Week starts Sunday, and the Morgan Hill nonprofit Community Law Enforcement Foundation and contributing sponsors have a busy week of events and fundraisers planned, according to CLEF secretary and treasurer Sharron Daniel.

President John F. Kennedy proclaimed May 15 National Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week surrounding that day as National Police Week to recognize “the service and sacrifice of U.S. law enforcement,” Daniel said.

“The Community Law Enforcement Foundation, along with several of our local merchants, will take this opportunity to thank our local heroes for the daily sacrifices they make to keep our community a safe place to live, work and play,” Daniel said.

CLEF is a local foundation that raises money to assist the Morgan Hill Police Department in operations and equipment costs that cannot be funded by city tax dollars.

This year National Police Week runs from May 15 to May 21, though Morgan Hill will start a day early on Saturday, at BookSmart, 80 East Second St., with “Kids and Cops Day.” From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., young residents are invited to the book store for story time, and to talk to police officers about what they do for the community, Daniel said. “We will have a giant thank you card for kids to decorate and sign,” Daniel said, and BookSmart will offer free ice cream to anyone who makes a donation of $1 or more to CLEF.

For more information about CLEF and the Police Week fundraisers listed below, go to www.morganhillclef.org.

• Monday, May 16: A “Seafood Tostada and Margarita” fundraiser will take place at Rosy’s at the Beach, 17320 Monterey Rd. The restaurant will donate $1 to CLEF for every tostada and margarita special that patrons order during happy hour.

• Tuesday, May 17: Ricatoni’s restaurant, 17385 Monterey Rd., will donate 10 percent of all sales to CLEF.

• Wednesday, May 18: Chili’s restaurant, 1039 Cochrane Rd., will sponsor “Give Back Day” from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The restaurant will donate part of their sales on any lunch, dinner or take-out order that day to CLEF. Patrons should mention that they are there to support the CLEF fundraiser, Daniel said.

• Thursday, May 19: MHPD K-9 officer Pax’s vest dedication ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. at Mama Mia’s restaurant, 275 East Dunne Ave. Morgan Hill’s German Shepherd K-9 was purchased through CLEF fundraising efforts in 2008. Ongoing fundraising by the foundation, the Morgan Hill Downtown Association and Mama Mia’s owner Majid Bahriny will contribute to the purchase of bullet-proof vest for the dog, which is trained to sniff out drugs, and apprehend criminal suspects. The restaurant will sponsor a community gathering “to celebrate the commitment of the community toward our K-9 unit,” Daniel said. Attendees will also be able to meet Pax.

• Saturday, May 21: “Coffee with the chief” is scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. at Hot Java, 25 East Fifth St. As part of the MHPD’s outreach efforts, Chief David Swing will be at the coffee shop to meet with residents, Daniel said. “He will discuss crime in Morgan Hill, his future vision for the police department and their new citizen’s academy program,” Daniel added.

• Saturday, May 21: The 9 Lives club, 7430 Monterey Street in Gilroy, will host a CLEF fundraiser featuring live entertainment. Three “rockabilly” bands – Los High Tops, Ghost Town Hangmen and HUNTINANNY – will perform. The club will make a donation from ticket sales to support CLEF. Tickets cost $10 in advance or $12 at the door. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show begins at 9 p.m.

• All week: Laura and Rosie at To Dye For salon, 84 West Second St., will donate 10 percent of every hair service performed from May 14 to May 21.

• All week: Serenity Salon, 25 West Fourth St., will host a massage fundraiser for CLEF. For each one-hour massage appointment throughout Police Week, Desiree College of Serenity Salon will donate $10 to the foundation.

• Now through May 29: CLEF is conducting a raffle for two Rock Hopper mountain bikes donated by Specialized Bicycle Components, a Morgan Hill-based company. Raffle tickets are $10 each, or three for $25. “Our goal is to sell 1,000 tickets to raise funds for the purchase of much-needed equipment that is not covered by the city budget,” Daniel said.