Battle Ground — When community members call for help, the police are adept at showing up. But what about when police need help?
The Battle Ground Police Department recently learned that when it needs help, community members will also show up. A water leak in a storage room at the police station in April ruined the agency’s collection of teddy bears — gifts given to children in times of crisis.
Officers keep a few bears in their patrol cars, giving them to children who have been in car accidents, have suffered child abuse or have witnessed a traumatic event. First to help were other city employees.
Within hours of learning of the problem, staff from every department purchased three dozen stuffed animals. From there, the donations grew.
City Manager John Williams called Riverview Bank Manager Amy Price, challenging her to collect as many or more bears. Price, a member of the Battle Ground Rotary and Battle Ground Chamber of Commerce, accepted the challenge, recruiting the Rotary to help too. Rotary members and owners of Main Street Floral Marilyn Moeser and Ty McKay also stepped up, contacting their teddy bear supplier and with the help of the Rotary, donated 48 teddy bears.
In total, Battle Ground police collected about 100 teddy bears.
“The police department is now well stocked with teddy bears and stuffed animals and is prepared for most importantly, to provide them to children who are suffering and in need of comfort,” the City of Battle Ground announced in a press release.
