BPD donates proceeds from motor competition to MADD

A mangled car from a crash was parked in a glass box Wednesday, a morbid reminder of the dangers of impaired driving that greeted dozens of police officers as they arrived to present a check to board members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving at the Bakersfield Police Department’s Westside Substation.

The BPD presented MADD with a check for $2,500 as part of the proceeds raised from the department’s recent motor skills competition. Some officers rode in on their motorcycles and parked them in a line, polishing their headlights as they waited.

On March 16, the BPD invited police agencies from across the state to compete in a motorcycle obstacle course by using skills they learned during training. During the event, vendors sold merchandise and raised money through donations to the police department. Part of the proceeds went to MADD.

Carla Pearson, senior victim service advocate at MADD, said she did not know the organization was going to receive a check at the beginning, but she knew sponsors were donating money.

“This helps me help the victims of the violent crime of impaired driving,” she said.

Pearson said driving around the community can be scary and that she thinks people need to change their mindset about racing to their destinations. She said members of her family were personally affected by drunken driving when they lost her son in a car crash after he was hit by a drunken driver with prior DUI convictions.

“These are violent crimes, they’re horrific and they change lives forever,” Pearson said.

Pearson said she has seen a lot of change over the years, particularly with the growth of the traffic unit at the BPD. She said those officers are “out saving lives.”

Joseph Galland, a traffic commander at the BPD, said the competition not only offered an opportunity for his team to show off skills. It was also an opportunity, he added, to give back to the community through donations and purchases.

“Our vendors, our other community supporters, everyone just stepped up and wanted to be part of it,” Galland said.

Galland said there was a tremendous turnout at the motor competition and other agencies were impressed by the support from the community.

BPD Chief Greg Terry said he is proud of his staff and vendors who made the event possible, and proud for the community that supports the department.

“I’m incredibly grateful to our very supportive community who is always there for the police department and they certainly showed that when they came out for the event,” Terry said.