Officers host PBA bike safety lunch and raffle for Camp Adventure kids

Officer Shelby Pileggi, Sgt. Heather Rudisill, Officer Eduardo Pazmino; see slide show of the day in Photo Gallery
July 30, 2010
by Christine Yeres

Yesterday, in full noonday sun in front of the Bell school, the New Castle Police Officers’ Police Benevolent Association hosted a Bike Safety presentation, hot dog lunch and bike raffle for the town’s Camp Adventure kids.  “The PBA has been doing this for the past 15 years, at least,” said PBA President Estuardo Pazmino. “In our 15 minute bike safety talk we emphasize how important it is to make sure the bike is safe to ride, to wear proper close-toed shoes and bright clothing, and to wear their helmets properly.  We touch also on rules of the road.”

With the exception of Lt. Marc Simmons, who took his lunch hour to allow campers to marvel at a police department motorcycle and also test its siren, officers were off duty. Some had stayed in town for the event after finishing their tours of duty at 7:00 a.m., said Pazmino.  Officers provided hot dogs, chips, drinks, ketchup and mustard. They used the Bell school kitchen to heat the hots.

Children were given raffle tickets at the beginning of presentation and, miraculously, they kept possession of them through lunch, until the big closing raffle.  Camp Director Tony Letizia called out numbers from tickets pulled from a bike helmet, raffling off five bike helmets and a gray-and-green Raleigh mountain bike the PBA had purchased from Julio’s bike shop.  Sergeant Heather Rudisill quickly assured the young girl who won the bike that she could exchange it at Julio’s for one her size.  At pick up time, Letizia later told NewCastleNOW.org, he informed the girl’s mother of the standing exchange offer.  Mother and daughter told him that they would likely switch the bike for one more, well, purple. 

From left to right: Sgt. Heather Rudisill, Officer Richard Tolliver, Lt. Mark Simmons, Officer Estuardo Pazmino, Officer Kelly Close, Riley Close (Kelly’s son), Officer Matt Wall, two friends of Riley Close and Officer Shelby Pileggi

Center: Winner of the bike; far right, Camp Director Tony Letizia

Sgt. Rudisill informs winner that she can exchange her prize at Julio’s