Berkley Public Safety Department is Calling All Golfers

The is calling all golfers – and sponsors – for its third annual charity golf outing May 21.

The event, which runs from 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Shenandoah Country Club in West Bloomfield, aims to raise funds for community events, including the Lids for Kids program and the annual Fire Prevention Open House. The fundraiser also helps support the volunteer police reserves and bike patrol unit, both of which assist with special events such as the Dream Cruise.

"It's a great day that supports a great cause," said Shift Sgt. Paul Combs, who helped secure a sponsorship from the Law Enforcement Education Program, of which he is chairman. LEEP is the event's largest sponsor.

"I'm not a very good golfer," he said. "I get out there for the fun of it and the camaraderie."

Not only will golfers get to spend time with Berkley Public Safety officers, they'll also rub elbows with local luminaries, according to Detective Sgt. Mike Crum.

He said more than 100 golfers participated last year, including: Berkley Public Safety Director Richard Eshman; Director Steve Fairman; Judge Jamie Wittenberg; Karen Koerber, owner of in Berkley; Berkley Mayor Marilyn Stephan and her husband; two squads from the Berkley City Council; and officers from the Bloomfield Hills, St. Clair Shores, Detroit, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak and Oak Park law enforcement agencies.

But the event isn't all fun and games (pun intended). It's also a fundraiser that is crucial if the department is to continue providing valued community services.

"We do collect money and donations, but (we) turn around and give it all back with the Lids for Kids, the fire open house and other community activities," said Officer Andrew Hadfield, who is organizing the golf outing. "With the cuts that have and will continue to come down, we really hate to have these programs shut down.

"But without support of the community and our businesses, we cannot support this beyond this year," Hadfield said.

Lids for Kids, which will be held in the beginning of June, provides free bike helmets to children in the . The event also features bounce houses, a bicycle safety course and bicycle equipment checks, Hadfield said.

The Fire Prevention Open House is held in the fall.

"We seek sponsors from anywhere," Hadfield said. "Some of our residents sponsor, some of our businesses sponsor. We have been expanding each year from Berkley to outside of Berkley. Donations can be anywhere from monetary to gift cards."

The department also encourages golfers to sign up. The event is open to the public, including residents of surrounding communities.

Registration costs $75 by April 15 and $85 after that. The fee includes 18 holes of golf, a cart and a boxed lunch, as well as a goodie bag, a logo ball from the department, golf tees and markers. Not only that, each golfer will receive a $50 gift card for Callaway Golf and have the opportunity to win a car in the hole-in-one contest.

There are 144 spaces available, so sign up before you miss out on the fun.

Contact Berkley Public Safety Officer Andrew Hadfield at 248-658-3380 for more details or click here to register or fill out a sponsorship form.