Law officers heading to Louisiana
By Sandra Marcano

  A one-week effort of rounding up food, water, First Aid, personal care items, new clothing and shoes filled a JAMKO tractor trailer yesterday in Lyons. Local law enforcement officers left at 1:30 a.m. today to take the items collected to Hurricane Katrina victims in Louisiana.

Lyons Police Officer Lisa Cole said, 'This relief team went above and beyond what I expected. Many police and corrections officers put a lot of personal time into this. It gives a new meaning to mutual aid among departments.'

(Pictured loading the truck are (front) Larry Pruner, Aaron Pruner, Clyde PD Deputy Chief Joe Cole; (in truck) Lyons PD Officer Lisa Cole, Wayne County Deputy Sheriff Bill Benedict and Lyons PD Clerk Helen Weimer.)

Officers from police departments, Sheriff's Dept. and others hustled for about seven days to gather donated items. These were taken to locations in Wolcott, Clyde, Newark and Lyons. Mike James of JAMKO donated the truck and arranged for two drivers.

The semi and a Sheriff's vehicle and trailer loaded with new clothes (pictured here with Dep. Benedict) left from the Lyons Community Center headed for a suburb of Baton Rouge. Cole said they were going to the Miracle Place Church Shelter, located in Baker, LA.

A truck from Palmer Distributing in Newark brought dozens of bottles of water and other items yesterday afternoon.

One officer involved in coordinating this relief effort was Doug Keyton of Newark P.D., who was not able to make the journey to Louisiana. Cole said he was 'awesome in helping and donated many hours of his time.'

Those on their way to Louisiana are Lisa Cole, Lyons Police Sgt. Jay Flock, Newark Officer Aaron Dean, Clyde Police Deputy Chief Joe Cole, Sheriff Deputy Bill Benedict, and Corrections Officer Scott Knapp.

Cole predicted the trip to be a 24-hour journey.

Watch for follow-up on their experience.

(Photos by Donna Comella)

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