American Legion Post Seven and Post Nine are working hard to provide the Chapala Police Department with a base-station repeater, a piece of equipment that will allow dispatchers to contact all units at the same time.
“Currently, the police here can contact units only one at a time,” says Post Seven’s Tom Schmidt. “If several units are required to attend the scene of an accident or incident, it takes much longer for them to arrive.”
To help purchase the equipment, Posts Seven and Nine are holding a fundraising event on Saturday, March 16, 1 p.m. at Cristiania Park in Chapala. The event will feature a Mexican buffet, mariachi music, raffles and cocktail service. Tickets are 250 pesos.
Though organizers are enthusiastic about the event, they realize that the 85,000 pesos in funds needed for the equipment will be tough to raise by themselves. That’s why they are asking assistance from other non-profit organizations, charities and businesses.“This equipment will benefit all residents of the municipality of Chapala, which includes all of Lakeside bounded by the municipalities of Jocotepec, Ixtlahuacan and Poncitlan,” said Schmidt. “We hope that other institutions will take notice and help make this drive for funds successful.”
American Legion Post Seven is inviting interested representatives from other organizations to attend a meeting with Chapala Police Department and Legion representatives on Thursday, January 31, 10:30 a.m. at Post Seven headquarters (Morelos 114, Chapala).
Donations from individuals, organizations, corporations or businesses who simply wish to contribute to this effort can be made at Post Seven in Chapala or the Lake Chapala Society in Ajijic.
For further information contact Schmidt at 765-7061, Al Roseman at 765-7654 or Al King at (376) 737-0859. The telephone number for American Legion Post Seven is 765-2259.