The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department enjoys a friendly competition and wins the challenge from LAPD to stuff a Department helicopter full of toys for those in need this holiday season.  Normally, we fill radio cars and buses in our fight against crime and injustice.  This time we filled not just one vessel full of toys for the holiday cheer but four!

Yes folks, in the spirit of friendly rivalry and inter-agency competition we not only met the challenge of filling one helicopter, but surpassed it by filling three helicopters.  And those were not the small helicopters either.  We filled two Eurocopter Super Pumas and one A-Star helicopter crammed full of stuffed animals, board games, personal hygiene items, cognitive learning toys and other items all for learning and developmental fun!  The cars filled with toys kept coming, and, with the assistance of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, we also filled a small truck.

It was raining at the time Sheriff’s personnel were bringing their donations to the helicopter landing area located next to Biscailuz Regional Training Center in East Los Angeles, and the aircraft to be filled (know as Air Rescue 5) was out in the field engaged  in a rescue operation.  In the end, everything worked out fine and the event was a huge success.

These toys will go to children in some of the most underprivileged and impoverished areas of Los Angeles County and to children coming to visit their parents at the Los Angeles County Jail on Christmas day.  They will be received by many little ones who may not otherwise get a present or know the joy of a gift this holiday. 

Congratulations to LASD personnel who participated in this very worthwhile cause and beat a worthy challenger in a very worthwhile competition.