Northeast Division's booster organization, BLEND (Business and residents for Law Enforcement Northeast Division), may well be the model for similar groups around the City.

Without BLEND, many of the local volunteer and community programs would flounder, and officers would lack much needed equipment.

BLEND and Northeast's C-PAB (Community-Police Advisory Board) co-sponsored an amazing event today, the 3rd Annual Crime Prevention Fair and Open House. To say it was a resounding success would be an understatement.

Largely because of these groups, and the vision of Captain Kyle Jackson, Northeast's commanding officer and an outspoken advocate of community based policing, the Division has quite a variety of interactive activities, partnerships between the community and law enforcement.

C-PABs themselves do not have treasuries, so over and over active Advisory Board members are required to either dig into their own pockets to support programs, or rely on an often already under funded Division for support. But BLEND fills in the gap at Northeast.

The partnership is a match made in heaven, and without it, there's no doubt Central Bureau's Northeast Division would be a very different Area.

And the officers know that when a need arises, BLEND responds.

As Captain Jackson says, "It's all about collaboration ... we have to bring in the community and ask for its help, building relationships that can make a real difference."

Heinrich (Rick) Keifer, current BLEND President, says the organization is about 30 years old. Over time it has contributed fitness equipment for a refurbished gym, new bikes for the Bike Patrol, and helped defray construction costs when a section of the building needed to be partitioned.

But not all of BLEND's support is for large ticket items. Recently the group provided the Division with a paper shredder and on another occasion a copy machine.

Earlier this year BLEND provided the refreshments and other amenities for a Central Bureau Townhall event hosted by Northeast Division at Occidental College. Keifer pointed out that although they often operate quietly and in the background, BLEND's participation frequently increases the quality of local LAPD events, and make them a better experience for the public and the officers.

At today's event, the five hour Crime Prevention Fair and Open House, Heinrich estimated that between 1500 and 2000 people attended, noting that 700 hot dogs (free to kids) disappeared quickly.

LAPD's Chief of Police Martin Pomeroy and Commander Lee Carter of Central Bureau participated, as did US Congressman Xavier Becerra, California State Assemblymember Carol Liu, and four members of the LA City Council, Eric Garcetti, Tom LaBonge, Ed Reyes and Nick Pacheco.

This was a family event, featuring a free Bounce House for younger children, a Dodger pitching machine, visits to the mobile Dodger History Museum Trailer and any number of giveaways. There was music broadcast by a DJ, and attendees took guided tours of the Northeast Area Community Police Station.

But the meat of the event was the opportunity to gather information, learn about available services, or sign up for community volunteer opportunities at Crime Prevention Booths.

Attendees found out how they could become a part of Northeast's newest community policing program by joining the Volunteer Surveillance Team (VST), a real favorite of Captain Jackson, and one he enjoys talking about. The Senior Lead Officers and Northeast's Problem Solving Detail, a successful new program that helps the community fight crime and improve neighborhoods, are other programs he'll mention.

Crime Prevention and Community Service Booths included: Scientific Investigation Division, LAPD Communications, Bike Patrol, Bomb Squad, Motorcycle Division, Problem Solving Unit, S.W.A.T., Air Support, D.A.R.E., Narcotics, Explorers, Jeopardy Program, K-9 Unit, Los Angeles Fire Department, Volunteer Surveillance Team, Police Historical Society Museum, LA Dodgers, American Red Cross, Department of the Aging, Fingerprinting and Child Identification, Park Rangers, Devonshire Search and Rescue, California Highway Patrol, BLEND and C-PAB.

Kids rubbed elbows with other youngsters involved in wholesome activities. Northeast Division's well mannered Explorers were there in force working the event, as was the new Junior Marine group, open to kids from 8 to 18. The group meets in Griffith Park and came dressed in their camouflage uniforms.

Everyone who attended had fun ... and learned a lot.

BLEND President Heinrich Keifer runs Northwestern Plumbing on York Boulevard in "real" life. He singled out new Board member, Ralph Surdo, as having made a significant contribution to the planning for the event, saying he single-handedly raised about $1800 of the $2200 needed to pull it off, principally by approaching corporate sponsors.

Most funds are normally raised through membership. Business membership is $75.00 annually and the Resident membership is $25.00.

BLEND supports and participates in Northeast Division's Police Appreciation Day, Crime Prevention Fair, Open House, Celebrity Golf Tournament, Explorer Challenge, C-PAB (Community-Police Advisory Board), DART (Domestic Abuse Response Team) and VST (Volunteer Surveillance Team), etc.

Heinrich says it's easy to see the real value of a booster group like BLEND, and extends an invitation to community members from other Divisions to contact him if they'd like assistance in getting a similar group off the ground.

BLEND (Business and residents for Law Enforcement Northeast Division) meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month, from 8:00am - 9:30am in the Community Relations Office.

Northeast Division Station
3353 San Fernando Road

Call to confirm the dates for BLEND meetings:

....Northeast Division Community Relations
....Community Relations Officer, Rita Vallejo
....213 / 485-2548

Or call these LACP Northeast community liaisons:

....Heinrich "Rick" Keifer - BLEND President, Northwestern Plumbing
....323 / 258-7920

....Barbara Lopez - C-PAB Member and LACP liaison
....323 / 256-1319