CLEARLAKE, Calif. - One hundred dollars. One hundred tickets. One classic Corvette.
The pink slip on a 1978 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is up for grabs in a fundraiser to enhance public and officer safety in the city of Clearlake.
The winning ticket for the new title holder will be drawn Sept. 11 at the Clearlake City Council meeting, which begins at 6 p.m.
The 25th Silver Anniversary edition hot rod is red, has T-tops and is “a whole lot of fun to drive,” according to Sam Polo, who donated the car to help buy body cameras for officers of the Clearlake Police Department.
Polo, owner of Main Street Bar & Grill in Clearlake, is a longtime contributor to the Clearlake Police Department and other area law enforcement agencies.
Currently he hosts up to three tip-a-cop fundraisers annually in support of the Clearlake Police K-9 unit, which functions entirely on community donations.
Polo recognizes the constraints of limited funding officers are working with locally and in other communities.
He said area officers face conditions comparable to those of larger cities and they are doing so with less funding.
“Police officers do a dangerous job and anytime you can help them, you help make the community and the public safer,” Polo said. “It's a win-win situation.”
The American muscle car was parked in the garage of a retired area California Highway Patrol officer for 20 years, Polo said, until he bought it not long ago.
With new tires and new battery, Polo said he drove it a few times, had his fun, and was taken with an idea to use it in a fundraiser.
Working with the Police Officers Association, Polo said his goal is to equip every Clearlake Police officer with a body camera.
“It really works best for the police officer and the public,” he said. “It makes people think twice about what they are doing. It helps prevent liability suites against city and it increases the safety of the officer.”
Polo said equipping all officers with body cameras is estimated to cost $13,000. He said a total of 100 raffle tickets will be sold for $100 apiece.
“Raising money is not that easy. The police department doesn't have the money to pay for it and the city is really struggling,” he said. “I hope with such a great prize we can raise $10,000 for the body cameras.”
Lakeshore Lions Club is assisting with raffle sales to comply with restrictions related to private individuals and not-for-profit fundraising events.
Lions member Bob Kiel is selling raffle tickets at his business, Bob's Vacuum on Mullen Avenue in Clearlake. Tickets also are available at Main Street Bar & Grill.
“We really appreciate Sam Polo's continued support of the Clearlake Police Department and we thank Bob Kiel for taking on this adventure to sell tickets and collect donations,” Police Chief Craig Clausen said. “We hope the community supports this fundraiser and we get to see some lucky person win that beautiful car.”
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