Los Angeles Police Department SWAT “Fill the B.E.A.R.” toy collection NR14443MA

Los Angeles:    LAPD Special Weapons And Tactics Team is partnering with the Orthopedic Institute for Children (OIC) for a special “Fill the B.E.A.R.” toy drive on Wednesday,     November 19th at the Westfield Promenade parking lot located at Erwin Street and Owensmouth Avenue from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The public is invited to donate toys to fill an LAPD Ballistically Engineered Armored Response (B.E.A.R.) vehicle.  

This “Fill the B.E.A.R” campaign marks the 20th anniversary of SWAT officers teaming up with OIC.  In addition to the toy collection event on Wednesday, donation boxes have been placed in the 21 LAPD stations throughout Los Angeles during the month of November.     

SWAT officers are hoping to collect about 5,000 toys to deliver to approximately 2,000 OIC patients.  

“This year, we especially want to remember Randy Simmons, the officer who was instrumental in growing this partnership for over 10 years, before he was tragically killed in the line of duty,” said Officer Eddie Perez, a SWAT Team member and one of the coordinators of this year’s event.  

Orthopedic Institute for Children is a world leader in pediatric orthopedic care, research and education and has locations in downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Westwood.  
    
For more information about the ‘Fill the B.E.A.R.” toy collection, please call Officer Eddie Perez at 213-305-4594