Full Notification

LASD Assistant Sheriff Cecil Rhambo, Chief David Betkey, Deputy Steven Propster, Public Information Officer Nicole Nishida plus past year's participants will swim a relay from Catalina Island to Cabrillo Beach.

Last year's participants who are back to swim again include Captain Phil Hansen, Deputies Dean La Chasse, Ryan Kearns, Luca Gaetani, and Welby Cham, along with (not swimming) back up team Captain Sam Dacus and Sergeant Sonia Parra.

From Saturday night, August 20 - from the steps of the Casino, Avalon, Catalina Island

to Sunday morning, August 21 - Cabrillo Beach, San Pedro

In an effort to raise funds and show their commitment to help children in need, the swimmers will cover more than 26 miles of cold ocean water. Pledges go directly to the 999 for kids fun, which benefits more than 1,000 children in the specialized medical placement and deaf services unit who are victims of child abuse, neglect, and domestic violence.

http://www.999forkids.org/

“999 is the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s radio code for Deputy needs immediate assistance.” We are working to provide “immediate assistance” to kids in need. With everyone's help, we can answer every call for help as quickly as possible.

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999 For Kids, Avalon to San Pedro Relay Swim - 2010

At exactly 8:00PM on August 28, 2010, Deputy Luca Gaetani slipped into the cold, dark, Pacific waters from the steps of Casino Point at Catalina Island’s Avalon Harbor and began his swim out to sea. Thus began the first leg of our second annual, 999 for Kids, Avalon to San Pedro Relay Swim.
In the 2009 inaugural event, five swimmers, Deputies Luca Gaetani, Welby Cham, Dean Lachasse, Sergeant Cally Barrier and Captain Phil Hansen made the crossing in approximately 14 ½ hours.
In 2010, the same swimmers were joined by Deputies Ryan Kearns and Steve Propster.
With some improved navigation and the addition of these outstanding swimmers, we were able to slash nearly two hours off of our previous time, arriving on the sands of Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro at 8:30AM.
At the outset, reports of rough weather nearly caused a postponement of the relay but a decision was made to forge ahead in hopes that Catalina Island itself would provide some protection from a storm and heavy seas that were moving in from the south.
As the relay progressed across the channel, we were greeted by a beautiful moonrise, and at around 2:30AM, our swimmers were joined and urged on by a large school of dolphins.
Throughout the long night, all but one swimmer completed two, one-hour legs.
Unable to get the night off of work, Marina del Rey Deputy Steve Propster was picked up by an sheriff's patrol boat after swimming one extended leg of an hour and fifteen minutes, so he could return to the sheriff's station and complete his late night shift.
As our group neared the San Pedro coastline at sunrise, we were thrilled by several sightings of Blue Whales.
At one point, two of the leviathans fed and played directly in front of swimmer Deputy Scott Lachasse and his accompanying paddle boarder.
These largest creatures on earth provided a magnificent backdrop as we neared the end of our adventure. A few hundred yards off the coastline, all of the swimmers joined in for the final sprint through the cold water, to join friends and family who waited on the beach with towels, hot coffee and snacks.
What motivates otherwise stable Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department personnel to swim for approximately two hours each through open ocean in the dead of night? The answer is a common love of swimming and an opportunity for each of us to support and draw attention to disadvantaged children through 999 For Kids. Each swimmer solicited sponsors for our participation and when the swim concluded, nearly five thousand dollars had been collected for 999 For Kids.
Anyone who has both run and provided support during a relay run knows that on race day, the long hours of support are even more trying than the actual running. We could not have accomplished this event without the support of several outstanding people. Court Services Division Captain Sam Dacus and Sergeant Sonia Parra have been steadfast supporters. For the second year in a row, Sam bought dinner for the swimmers in Avalon and cheered us on through the night, as Sonia fastidiously kept our time and distance figures, as our boat slowly rolled through seas at two miles per hour.

Three L. A. City Lifeguards (Katherine Ahlers, Brian Peck and Edgar Davilla) volunteered, taking turns pacing and guiding our swimmers from a paddleboard illuminated with chem-lights.

The Marina del Rey Station vessel “Tradition” served as our base of operations, admirably crewed by Marina del Rey Sheriff's Station Sergeant Mike Carriles and Deputies Pat Clark, Ryan Campbell, and Howard Cosgrove. Our thanks go out to each of these personnel who were incredibly patient and supportive throughout the long night. Thanks as well to you to each of you who supported this effort and these deserving children through your contributions and prayers. With luck, 2011 will be better yet!

By Phil Hansen, Captain
Reserve Forces Bureau
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department


About "The 999 For Kids"
“999 is the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s radio code for Deputy needs immediate assistance.” We are working to provide “immediate assistance” to our kids in need. With everyone's help, we can answer every call for help as quickly as possible.
In 1985, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Department of Children and Family Services joined together and organized the 999 for Kids Program. This Program was developed to help physically and mentally challenged children throughout Los Angeles County who are victims of the most severe cases of child abuse, neglect and domestic violence.
The Specialized Medical Placement and Deaf Services Units of the Department of Children and Family Services are responsible for the care of more than 1,000 of these foster children who benefit from the 999 for Kids program. Although tax dollars provide for the basic needs of these children, there are no funds available for the needs that go beyond basic care.
The 999 for Kids Program raises money for the purpose of purchasing special items and services for these children i.e., sport wheelchairs, computers, special education classes, medically oriented toys and games. Major fund raising events include: a Child Abuse Awareness Pledge Drive sponsored by the various units in the Sheriff’s Department.
Additionally, a Christmas Party sponsored by the Sheriff’s Training Bureau and a Recognition Awards/Ice Cream Social ceremony sponsored by the Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau are held annually.

The 999 for Kids program depends in great part on donations from generous individuals, business partners, and corporate sponsors. Your donation is fully tax deductible and helps fund the additional needs of our children. Thank you for your support
If interested in assisting, donations can be sent to:
Sheriff’s Youth Foundation
Attention: 999 for Kids Program
4700 Ramona Blvd. , 4th floor
Monterey Park, CA. 91754
(Corporate Federal Tax ID# 95-4047797)



Forwarded by:
Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau – Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
(323) 267-4800
http://www.lasd.org
[email protected]
Twitter @LASD_News http://twitter.com/#!/LASD_News
http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment


Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

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