STUDENTS, GROUP GIVE TO POLICE VEST DRIVE

Students at Franklin Elementary collected $350 for the Cape Girardeau Regional Fraternal Order of Police Bulletproof Vest Fund.

The student council sponsored a Quarter Rally, which ran for one week. The council challenged all students to bring in a quarter a day to be donated to the vest fund.

The council presented a check to Cape Girardeau Police Officer Charlie Herbst, who serves as president of the Fraternal Order of Police.

The St. Marks Masonic Lodge also collected money for the vest fund during a recent car wash. The Lodge raised $450 and purchased a vest, which was presented to Cape Girardeau Police Officer Jeff Mangrum, co-chairman of the vest fund.

The Cape Girardeau Area Fraternal Order of Police has received almost $18,000 in donations from concerned citizens and service organizations throughout Southeast Missouri for the vest fund.

The Show Me Center also donated a vest to the FOP's vest fund.

"The Show Me Center wishes to convey its gratitude to the Cape Girardeau Police Department for all of the assistance provided over the past six years," said David Ross, Show Me Center director. "The donation of this vest is a gesture of our appreciation. We hope to continue a strong relationship with the department for many years to come."

The Cape Girardeau police provide parking control assistance at all Show Me Center public events.

The FOP has not yet reached its goal amount to outfit every officer in the Cape Girardeau Police Department and any FOP member officer in other departments in Southeast Missouri who request a vest, with one. Donations can be sent in care of the Cape Girardeau Regional Fraternal Order of Police, P.O. Box 2011, Cape Girardeau, 63702.