PALMDALE – Local law enforcement, community leaders, area business owners and their families converged at the Antelope Valley Country Club Monday for the 19th annual Duke Bloom Memorial Golf Tournament.
The event, organized by the Antelope Valley Sheriff’s Boosters, raised $132,000, according to Lancaster Community Relations Deputy Miguel Ruiz.
“It’s a fundraiser that our Antelope Valley Sheriff’s Boosters does to try and raise money for equipment and safety protective gear that we use on a regular basis at Lancaster Sheriff’s Station,” Ruiz said. “In our budget, there [are] some fiscal deficiencies where we’re not always able to have enough equipment, protective equipment specifically, for all the deputy sheriff’s that we have in the field.”
Ruiz said the AV Sheriff’s Boosters will use 100% of the proceeds from the golf tournament fundraiser to support the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.
Proceeds from past fundraisers have been used to purchase battering rams for executing search warrants and non-lethal weapons, such as Tasers, according to Ruiz.
“They helped purchase 50 Tasers, and those Tasers are shared between Palmdale and Lancaster Sheriff’s Stations,” Ruiz said. “Instead of us having to use deadly force, we’re able to use a Taser to lessen the chances of injury or death towards the deputy sheriff or towards a suspect or assailant, which helps us stop things at a peaceful resolution.”
“It’s a special thanks to the Antelope Valley Sheriff’s Boosters,” Ruiz added.
Other fundraisers at Monday’s golf tournament included a raffle and auction.
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