Police Officer Works to Restore Bike to Youths, Connection with Community

It's not just about the bicycles; it's about the handshake, too.

Ferndale Police Sgt. Baron Brown has organized a fundraiser Sunday at the to for 10 Ferndale youths who may have been the victims of bicycle larcenies during the past year.

"There are 40 to 50 bikes stolen in Ferndale every year," Brown said.

The fundraiser is set up as a pool tournament from 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Cover is a $10 donation, and to play in the tournament costs $15.

Brown said police already have identified four youths in Ferndale who had their bicycles stolen last year. He said the remaining recipients might not have had their bikes stolen, but may deserve the bikes in other ways. "Maybe there are some kids who have over come the odds and are deserving," Brown said.

Brown grew up in Ferndale. He went to Hazel Park schools. He worked his way through the city, first as a code enforcer for the Department of Public Works and, in 1995, he was hired as a Ferndale Police officer.

"I’m a Ferndale kid, I grew up here, I got my bike stolen when I was young," he said. "A lot of kids might not be able to replace their bikes in these economic times. We'd like to replace these bikes for these kids."

The bicycles will also be given away with a helmet, a lock and a bicycle licensee registered with the city.

Now for the handshakes part.

Though a big part of this fundraiser is replacing these bicycles for the Ferndale youths, Brown hopes to bring the police department and the community closer together.

"This is an opportunity to get into the community. We want to show that the police department are not just the guys who show up and arrest people, but that we're flesh and blood," Brown said.

Brown said that during the course of a workday, officers are running from call to call and don't have the time to shake hands, talk to someone mowing their lawn or get to know the people of Ferndale.

"A lot of us are Ferndale guys, a lot of us grew up in Ferndale," he said. "So we know. But for the younger guys, this is a way to get out and shake hands with the people making those calls."

Brown hopes that bringing the police officers and the community together for an event such as Sunday's will show the community in a different way.

"During the 16-week training period, police officers learn tactics and weaponry, but the community isn't talked about," he said. "We forget that people who call us are flesh and blood. And even if the police officers don't live here, this is their community."