Bridgeville Chief Gets Tased for Charity

Normally, no one would want to be Tased, Bridgeville Police Chief Chad King said. But for a good cause, King decided to forego this common judgment.

The Bridgeville Police Department partnered with the Knights Templar Motorcycle Charity Organization to raise money for the Annie Baumgarten Children’s Safety Fund, established after the former Bridgeville resident died in a motorcycle accident in Wyoming in June 2010.

A motorcycle run to raise money for the fund will be held June 22.

To kick-start the fundraiser, King told his officers that anyone who donated $10 to the cause could put their name in a hat, and be randomly chosen to Tase him. The department alone raised $140 for the cause.

“As Chief of Police I am committed to providing a safe environment for all members of this community. Annie Baumgarten was a personal friend of mine whom I met during my 12 years as a patrolman. Quite often I would stop by and speak to Annie when she worked the afternoon shift at the 7-11. I can attest to her love of children and her dreams of making a difference in their lives,” King wrote in a press release about the event.

The Knights Templar Motorcycle Organization is a non-profit group that organizes rides to raise money for child-related charities in Western Pennsylvania.

Money from the Child Safety Fund will be used to install a video surveillance system at Holy Child Catholic School, an initiative started by the Bridgeville Police Department in conjunction with Baumgarten’s mother and school officials.

The video will be fed to monitors at the police department and in the police cars so that officers can monitor various locations inside and outside of the school.   The department hopes to raise enough money with the motorcycle run to purchase and install cameras this fall.

Those participating in the ride should meet at Castaway’s on Washington Avenue in Bridgeville on June 22. Registration will be held from noon until 2 p.m., with kickstands up at 2 p.m.

Following the 50-mile ride, participants can re-convene at Castaway’s for music, a buffet and a Chinese auction. There will be a $20 cover charge for the post-ride celebration.

Registration is $20 for a single rider or $25 for a couple. Pre-registration is recommended, but not required. For more information, or to pre-register, contact Knights of Templar Commander Mike Chechuck at  machechuck@Gmail.com, or commander.usa@ktmco.org.

Those who want to make a donation to the Annie Baumgarten Children’s safety fund can send donations to Northwest Savings and Loan at 430 Washington Ave, Bridgeville Pa., 15017.