By Preston C. Smith
On Tuesday, Oct. 25, helicopters from police departments across Southern California flew into the San Bernardino International Airport, landing at the sheriffs hangar loaded with toys for children at Loma Linda University Childrens Hospital.
The eventco-hosted by the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department, the Riverside Police Department and the Riverside County Sheriffs Departmentis the end result of toy drives at various police departments culminating in a spectacular delivery to Childrens Hospital. More than 60 police officers from agencies across Southern California filled vans with toys to caravan to Childrens Hospital. A motorcycle escort led the procession from the airport to the hospital.
The law enforcement officials brought toys and smiles for every young patient.
One of the biggest smile producers was the special landing made on the north lawn. This year, two helicopters landed on-site at the hospital. Childrens Hospital patients were able to get an up-close and personal look at the police helicopters.
The toy drive and spectacular delivery were organized by Deputy Jeff Werblun, a pilot for the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department and director of the Cops for Kids Fly-in, now a non-profit organization, and Officer Don Miskulin, pilot for the Riverside Police Department.