Citizens Fire & Public Safety volunteers donate $1,600 to PD

By LYNETTE SOWELL

Cove Leader-Press

During their monthly meeting on Monday evening, the Citizens Fire and Public Safety Volunteers Association, Inc. presented three checks to Sgt. Martin Ruiz of the Copperas Cove Police Department. The first check, for $500, will go to purchase supplies for the Community Services Division, which Ruiz presides over. The group also donated $1,000 for the National Night Out Kickoff this fall. “We really appreciate this,” Ruiz told the members assembled at the Central Fire Station. “This will be great for the National Night Out Kickoff Party.” Ruiz also received a check for $100, which will go toward batteries for the special flashlights used by the department’s Criminal Investigation Division. James Stockman, president of the CFPSVA, read a letter of appreciation from police chief Timothy Molnes to the group, in which Molnes expressed what the donations mean during a time of budget shortfalls the city has been experiencing. The group also recognized Ron and Alma Swift for accumulating the greatest number of volunteer hours in the group during 2014. Additionally, they looked ahead and prioritized other future projects, including purchasing supplies for a radio cabinet for Deputy Fire Chief Gary Young’s office, as well as approving the future purchase of supplies to help retile and seal one of the showers at the fire department. The Citizens Fire and Public Safety Volunteers Association recently donated three gas grills to the fire fire department, as well as a security camera system.