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Students give police a boost
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| St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic School principal Dr. June Rosena, left, greets Burbank Police Chief Tim Stehr during Burbank Police Department Appreciation Day Mass' distribution of Communion at Burbank's St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church on Friday. (Raul Roa/Leader) |
St. Robert Bellarmine expresses appreciation for officers, giving them something to smile about amid turmoil.
By Christopher Cadelago
DOWNTOWN — It took the gestures, voices and laughter of children to bring a smile to the faces of Burbank’s Finest after a week many would just as soon forget.
About two dozen members of the Burbank Police Department were showered Friday with the adoration of St. Robert Bellarmine students at the inaugural Burbank Police Department Appreciation Day.
Officers of all ranks, including Police Chief Tim Stehr, rounded out a cross section of a department plagued by a drumbeat of negative headlines in recent months. School administrators proposed the day as an opportunity to break the downbeat series of events and demonstrate the trust and respect evident between residents and members of the force, Principal June Rosena said.
“I want people to appreciate all the good our police officers do for the city,” Rosena said.
“Everybody could use a little pick-me-up. That’s one of the things our students wanted to share.”
By any measure, it’s been a tough couple of weeks for the city’s police officers.
Stehr was publicly called out just days after a sergeant ended his own life on a public street. Sgt. Neil Thomas Gunn’s family has since attributed his death, in part, to the poor treatment by city executives and members of the department. Investigations by the FBI, Los Angeles County sheriff and city into police misconduct, a growing pile of lawsuits over everything from discrimination to workplace retaliation and pressure from numerous city commissioners have kept police issues at the fore.
Despite all the negativity, it’s easy to forget the fact that dozens of students dream about growing up to don the blue and whites, said Albert Rosena, the school’s dean of discipline and technology coordinator.
Students began a morning Mass attended by city executives, Burbank and LAPD officers and sheriff’s officials by belting out a series of hymns. The school band opened a courtyard performance as students from first through eighth grades presented Stehr with stacks of handmade gifts.
Burbank Police Lt. John Dilibert maintained the children helped to bring back a sense of innocence lost.
“That made my day,” Stehr said.
“The spirit those kids showed, we’re all grateful.”
Just one day after burying a colleague, Officer Gil Moreno said the show of gratitude went a long way to changing the mood.
He waved and smiled as a small cluster of first- and second-graders stood near a sign imploring God to watch over those “who risk their safety to keep others safe.”
“The whole morning changed my attitude,” Moreno said. “It was a great way to end a terrible week.”
Officers then moved inside where students greeted them with a large breakfast.
“It’s like winning the lottery of love and support and appreciation,” Lt. Ron Caruso said.
About two dozen members of the Burbank Police Department were showered Friday with the adoration of St. Robert Bellarmine students at the inaugural Burbank Police Department Appreciation Day.
Officers of all ranks, including Police Chief Tim Stehr, rounded out a cross section of a department plagued by a drumbeat of negative headlines in recent months. School administrators proposed the day as an opportunity to break the downbeat series of events and demonstrate the trust and respect evident between residents and members of the force, Principal June Rosena said.
“I want people to appreciate all the good our police officers do for the city,” Rosena said.
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By any measure, it’s been a tough couple of weeks for the city’s police officers.
Stehr was publicly called out just days after a sergeant ended his own life on a public street. Sgt. Neil Thomas Gunn’s family has since attributed his death, in part, to the poor treatment by city executives and members of the department. Investigations by the FBI, Los Angeles County sheriff and city into police misconduct, a growing pile of lawsuits over everything from discrimination to workplace retaliation and pressure from numerous city commissioners have kept police issues at the fore.
Despite all the negativity, it’s easy to forget the fact that dozens of students dream about growing up to don the blue and whites, said Albert Rosena, the school’s dean of discipline and technology coordinator.
Students began a morning Mass attended by city executives, Burbank and LAPD officers and sheriff’s officials by belting out a series of hymns. The school band opened a courtyard performance as students from first through eighth grades presented Stehr with stacks of handmade gifts.
Burbank Police Lt. John Dilibert maintained the children helped to bring back a sense of innocence lost.
“That made my day,” Stehr said.
“The spirit those kids showed, we’re all grateful.”
Just one day after burying a colleague, Officer Gil Moreno said the show of gratitude went a long way to changing the mood.
He waved and smiled as a small cluster of first- and second-graders stood near a sign imploring God to watch over those “who risk their safety to keep others safe.”
“The whole morning changed my attitude,” Moreno said. “It was a great way to end a terrible week.”
Officers then moved inside where students greeted them with a large breakfast.
“It’s like winning the lottery of love and support and appreciation,” Lt. Ron Caruso said.
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