Adopt A Cop program inspired by police shooting
By Sande Snead CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Page Dowdy/Chesterfield Observer Bobbie Balch (right) founded Adopt A Cop with the support of Captain Steve Neal and Sergeant Layne Hellerstadt. The organization will hold a breakfast later this month to raise funds for the Chesterfield Police Department.

When Bobbie Balch learned Chesterfield Police Officer Gary Buro was killed and his partner Joe Diman was shot while responding to a domestic call last May, she decided "enough is enough." It was time to "take back the streets." The shooting came just three years after another Chesterfield police officer - Officer Ryan Cappelletty - was killed in the line of duty in 2003.

"In Chesterfield County, 98 percent of citizens are law abiding," Balch said. "I thought there's no way we can't take back the streets from the unlawful two percent."

Countering bad with good, Balch, along with DJ "Wolf Man John" Newton galvanized the Southern Knights Cruisers Car Club and convinced them to donate the proceeds of their next Cruise-In at the Hardee's on Route 10 to the Chesterfield County Police Department.

If you've ever driven down Route 10 in Chester on a Saturday night in the spring or summer, you've seen the Cruise-In. The Southern Knights Cruisers are car enthusiasts who collect everything from Model A cars to classic Camaros and Corvettes. They converge on the Hardee's on Route 10 and Old Stage Road at 5 p.m. on Saturdays from April through September. They ask for donations from the public and all proceeds go to local nonprofit organizations and other good causes.

At their June 12 Cruise-In, Balch took the microphone from Newton and asked everyone to sign a big card for Officer Diman and another for Officer Chris Watson, who was injured in a car accident.

"I thought to myself, this isn't enough," Balch said. "I called the police department and talked to Sergeant Layne Hellerstadt and told her I wanted to hand out labels with these officers' names and the address of the police department so people could send their own cards and well wishes. She readily agreed."

Adopt A Cop was born. These first two officers were officially adopted by the Southern Knights Cruisers and by the citizens of Chesterfield County who sent bags and bags of mail to the precinct in support of the injured policemen.

The group also helped the two officers and their families out financially. When officers have to be out of work for a number of days without pay, Adopt A Cop provides short-term emergency relief.

"The Adopt A Cop program has been quite touching," said Captain Steve Neal. "Unfortunately in this business, almost all of our encounters are negative, out-of-control situations. It's not often that we hear, 'Thank you. We'd like to do something special to help you.'"

To keep the fundraising going for officers in need of financial assistance, Balch Automotive Collision Inc. (Balch's son Wayne Balch Jr. is the owner) underwrote the cost of window decals that say, "Proud Sponsor of Adopt A Cop." The decals depict an antique police car, a police officer and a German shepherd.

The Southern Knights Cruisers give the decals out at their Cruise-Ins and ask for a $5 donation for the program. They have already raised more than $6,800. Some of that money has gone to the Colonial Heights Police Department as well.

Their last Cruise-In of the season in September involved a police lock-up at the Hardee's lot. Visitors could lock up whomever they wanted for $20 to benefit Adopt A Cop; $3,800 was raised in three hours.

In December, the group held a waffle breakfast at O'Charley's in Chester that raised $1,700. They'll hold another one Mar. 24.

Other groups have joined in the effort. The Sons of the American Legion have started an Adopt A Cop program in Colonial Heights. Two car club councils in Tidewater and Virginia Beach have done the same in their area.

"This thing has taken on a life of its own," Balch said. "We only have 25 members in the Southern Knights Cruisers and this thing is much bigger than us. We released the program in October so it could expand to other parts of the state, but the club retained Chesterfield County. Sen. Steve Martin spoke to our group and he said this program needs to go border to border in the commonwealth."