By John Maxwell
On December 7, PLEA Charities hosted the 13th annual Shop With a Cop along with the Arizona Probation Officers Association (AZPOA) at Kohl’s in north Phoenix. This event was our most successful to date, thanks to a grant from the West Valley Mavericks Foundation and an extremely generous donation from QuikTrip. With these monetary donations, we were able to support a record 195 children ranging from 7 to 12 years old, giving them an experience that they will never forget.
Officers who participated in this event were each assigned a child, whom they picked up and transported to Kohl’s in a fully marked police vehicle. Officers, children and numerous volunteers checked in at registration and immediately went to a warm, heated tent for breakfast sandwiches donated by Chick-fil-A, doughnuts, water, hot chocolate and coffee donated by Graveyard Shift Coffee. The officers and children then completed small Christmas-themed crafts that they could take home to their families.
There were many static displays on site for the children to see, including the Special Assignments Unit armed vehicle, four unmarked and marked police vehicles, the Phoenix Police ice cream van, two semi-tractors from Duncan and Sons Lines trucking, a 30-foot-tall Chick-fil-A cow and a full-sized Chick-fil-A hot air balloon that lifted off from the parking lot just before Blue Santa’s arrival.
Everyone then lined up in front of the Kohl’s store, anxiously waiting for the arrival of Blue Santa, who was riding to the store in the Phoenix Police Department helicopter. A Phoenix Police K-9 demonstration was conducted by two of our handlers, who showcased the dog’s ability to perform an apprehension of a suspect. The helicopter gradually came into view and circled the parking lot, playing sleigh bells through the PA system, before eventually touching down. Blue Santa and an elf emerged from the helicopter, waving and saying, “Merry Christmas, everyone.” Blue Santa greeted the children and quickly went inside the store to take his seat for pictures and to listen to what the children wanted for Christmas.
The Phoenix Police helicopter powered down and remained in the parking lot, allowing us to take a large group photo with it directly in front of the Kohl’s store. Afterward, everyone made their way into the store to start shopping. Kohl’s had 20 volunteers who donated their time to assist with this event and help the children and officers with the shopping experience.
Each child was provided with a $175 gift card to spend in store, and in some cases, our officers used their own money to cover overages at the register. While everyone was inside the store shopping, Blue Santa sat in his chair, and a professional photographer took pictures of him and the children to commemorate the event. Those photos were given to the children’s families.
On the side of the store, there were two large tents adorned with colored Christmas lights, each with tables and chairs to signify the gift-wrapping station. All the volunteers assisted the children with wrapping their gifts. Blue Santa even peeked out the side door and said, “It looks like Santa’s workshop out there.”
The event concluded, and Blue Santa left the store because he is very busy this time of year. The children were given rides back home by their officers, who loaded gifts in the back of their vehicles.
This is the largest Shop With a Cop event that PLEA Charities has ever hosted, and it stands as the single largest Shop With a Cop event in the state of Arizona!
I want to thank all of the Phoenix police officers and probation officers who make this event possible each year. This event embodies the true meaning of the Christmas spirit, and the relationships made with the children will never be forgotten. I also extend my sincere gratitude to the sponsors and donors who believe in the mission of PLEA Charities and support law enforcement.
Last but not least, a big thank-you to Officer Jessica Tatum, whose assistance and meticulous planning were instrumental in putting all of this together. We could not have made this happen without you.
By John Maxwell
This year, we changed the name of the Police Officers’ Ball to the Police Officers’ Charity Gala. We are also proud to announce several accolades that came from this great event! First, this was the most successful gala fundraiser to date, generating over $65,000 in revenue! Second, the event was sold out one month in advance, which was the first time this had ever occurred. We offered discounted ticket pricing for PLEA members on both individual ticket sales and full tables of 10. I cannot thank everyone enough for their support of PLEA Charities and our mission to assist public safety personnel — and to assist in giving back to our community.
On October 7, 300 guests attended the “all-black attire” event at a new venue, Events on Jackson. The staff at Events on Jackson were very welcoming and gave us the opportunity to utilize most of their facility without saying no.
One of the challenges we expected in preparation for this year’s gala was parking since it is located in the heart of downtown Phoenix. Luckily, everything fell into place just beforehand, and the parking lot was open for us to use, with no sports games being played at home. The planning for this event took place nearly a year ago, and it is not an easy task. The committee had to ask for in-kind donations to be used for the auction and secure necessary sponsors.
We added some new things to the normal program schedule, which included “cocktail hour and a half,” which allowed guests to mingle while grabbing a drink with the two provided drink tickets, eat hors d’oeuvres and most importantly, take photos to commemorate the night.
Silent auction bidding was done on paper bid sheets this year during cocktail hour, as well as mystery box purchases. The bourbon and bubbly wall also received a facelift with a custom-made static display. PLEA Charities had secured a special event liquor license, and all the bar service needs were donated by local distributors and vendors. The bars were fully stocked by the awesome people at Breakthru Beverage Group. Four Peaks Brewing Company graciously donated kegs of beer to be served to our guests. We wanted to improve the after-dinner live entertainment, which was the Crown Kings Band. They were so thankful to play for a police charity and wanted to show their appreciation to the men and women in blue. I received many compliments from attendees who really enjoyed the band because they took requests for songs while dancing and playing at the casino gaming tables.
The Phoenix Police Museum police car was onsite in the parking lot for guest photographs. Erik Larson donated his time to take professional pictures, which are free to all guests. Each guest also received a special gift of either a tie clip or stackable bracelet at registration with an engraved Police Officers’ Charity Gala logo. These gifts can be worn at future gala events.
Just after checking in at registration, guests were greeted by a fully built custom step-and-repeat wall for selfies and professional photographs. Our master of ceremonies was Mike Broomhead, who did an amazing job, as usual, captivating the audience and keeping them entertained. Gilded Gatherings, a professional catering company, was a new vendor that provided elegant appetizers, a full dinner meal and beautiful desserts. The return of Tommy Thompson as our incredible auctioneer helped raise money during the live auction, which had multiple firearms and an exclusive trip to Hendrick Motorsports Complex. There were some fun bidding wars that happened during the live auction, with one of them ending with a significant bid increase to secure the win.
Once again, guests were able to cash in every $100 of casino gaming chips for tickets to put into a raffle for two different prizes. I announced those winners during a livestream on the PLEA Charities Facebook page. The prizes were a custom wood blue line flag and a family portrait session in California, including a one-night hotel stay.
Every year, we strive to improve the experience of the guests who come to support PLEA Charities, and we are already planning for next year!
I must give a special thank-you to the Gala Committee members who volunteered their time, money and effort to make this event so beautiful and memorable:
- Claudia Abril
- Hillary Hancock
- Ashley Kidd
- Kalie Lindmark
- John Maxwell
- Haili McCance
- Dani Pomeroy
- Amber Ruiz
- Haley Schuster
- Whitney Stevenson
All proceeds from the Police Officers’ Charity Gala support PLEA Charities’ mission of helping police and caring for the community through programs including the Back to School Drive, the Phoenix Police Cadet Scholarship and Shop With a Cop.
By Darrell Kriplean, PLEA President
It used to be that when critical incidents occurred, the practice of the Department was to roll two MAC vans to the scene. One was for the investigators, who would invariably be on scene for 10 or more hours conducting a thorough investigation. The other was used by the involved officers to meet with their attorney, union representative and EAU, make necessary calls to loved ones and generally try to decompress from the adrenaline and stress of the incident that had just occurred.
It usually takes several hours for the involved officer(s) to be interviewed by the criminal detectives and all the processes that go with that investigation, only to be followed up by the administrative investigations. That, too, can take several hours.
Several years ago, the Department made the decision to utilize the second MAC van for the Professional Standards Bureau investigators. This meant that the officers involved were relegated to a marked police car with a sergeant somewhere within the scene. This environment does not help the officer(s) with their heightened stress and emotions. Usually, the police radio is still on and broadcasting information regarding the incident. In addition, the media can generally tell where the involved officers are and, in some instances, have been able to get video of them as they process what happened. Anyone who has done the job knows that gallows humor sometimes occurs, and that can be misconstrued by an enterprising reporter looking for a juicy tale to tell. For years, the Department told us they were trying to get an alternative vehicle out to these scenes.
In 2020–21, a company provided the Department, without cost, the use of a Class A RV for the officers to wait in. After a year, the Department was asked to pay for the utilization of the RV, to which they declined. It was back to police cars for the officers.
Late last year, PLEA Secretary John Maxwell and I decided we were done waiting for the Department to solve this issue and created a sponsorship booklet for PLEA Charities. The premise was to raise money for the purchase of our own response van, which would allow the officers to get out of the police cars while they waited for hours. We felt it was a better option for their mental well-being.
We made calls to very specific organizations that we felt would be interested in helping our members. Our first pitch was to Haley Shuster from Blue Line AZ Homes and Amber Ruiz from The Ruiz Team (Prime Lending). They both supported our vision, and they immediately committed resources to help us. Several weeks later, after leaving my contact information with someone at the Tempe offices of QuikTrip, I received an email from one of their executives from the Tulsa headquarters, who wanted to sit down with us regarding our mission. We pitched our idea to them, and they seemed very interested. We parted ways, and the wait began.
A month or so later, John and I received an email from QuikTrip, advising us that they were on board, too, and wanted to donate at the top sponsorship level and then some. We were completely flabbergasted! With QuikTrip, Blue Line AZ Homes and The Ruiz Team (Prime Lending), we had reached the point where we could make a purchase.
We were able to take delivery of our new PLEA Charities response van a few months ago and have it wrapped. This was all done with donated funds from our partners. The next phase to outfitting this van is to have the interior modified with more comfortable seating, along with an auxiliary A/C and heat, so we don’t have to idle the van for eight to 10 hours, depending on the scene. This will create an environment conducive to decompression, overall mental well-being and privacy. You will also see the van at every PLEA Charities event, promoting our mission to promote the positive image of law enforcement and to support all of you when you need it most.
If you would like to assist us with that or know someone who might be interested in sponsoring the van outfitting with a tax-deductible contribution, please call us here at the PLEA office at (602) 246-7869 or email me at dkriplean@azplea.com.
What Do Police Officer Defense Attorneys Do?
A police officer defense attorney is a very specialized type of lawyer who represents law enforcement personnel when they are accused of crime. Your membership with PLEA provides you the benefits of the PORAC Legal Defense Fund, which provides prepaid access to an attorney who is available to you any time of the day or night and is willing to respond to incidents such as officer-involved shootings, which often occur in the middle of the night; in-custody deaths; and other on-duty related incidents.
Officer-involved shootings are often traumatic and stressful for the officer. Having a police officer defense attorney respond to the scene alongside you to protect your rights is so important. A police officer defense attorney will be present with you at the scene of the shooting to discuss the shooting and your role. This is done alone, to maintain attorney–client privilege before you ever provide a statement to homicide detectives or investigators. The same is true for in-custody deaths or other allegations that are criminal in nature. A police officer defense attorney will come to the scene regardless of the time of day or night to assist you.
Also, there may be times when you are involved in an on-duty incident that exposes you to criminal liability. If you are accused of a crime while on duty, you will need the best possible defense lawyer to help you throughout the investigation, including trial, and to clear your name — a police officer defense attorney who knows the ins and outs of the criminal justice system and will be able to mount a strong defense against the allegations, who is experienced in representing police officers and can also assist you if you are charged with a crime outside the normal course and scope of your employment, such as a DUI or a domestic-violence-related offense. Only those attorneys who have a demonstrated track record in successfully defending and assisting police officers become a part of the Legal Defense Fund panel for PORAC.
My name is Jess A. Lorona, and I am a Legal Defense Fund attorney. I have represented police officers in over 30 officer-involved shootings. I have assisted numerous police officers when they have been investigated by the Special Investigation Division of the City of Phoenix Police Department. I will be with you during those interviews conducted by SID, regardless of the nature of the complaint, and provide my full legal advice. I have successfully represented officers who have been charged with on-duty and off-duty crimes. I have represented officers through complex trial hearings with successful verdicts. There is also the administrative side related to criminal investigations. I have attended Loudermill hearings to speak for officers who still have a pending criminal matter, because those statements are not Garrity protected.
I have been practicing law for 38 years. My practice areas include criminal defense of felonies and misdemeanors, including DUI defense. I have been working with PLEA as an LDF panel attorney for over seven years, and you can rely on me to be there when you need it most. If you are involved in a critical incident, immediately contact the PLEA representative on call by contacting the radio supervisor. If you’re ever in need of assistance, please feel free to contact me at (602) 385-6818 or email jess@loronamead.com.
My name is Alan Kuffner. I am a partner at the law firm of Bustamante & Kuffner PC. My law partner, Manny Bustamante, and I have been in private practice for 23 years together. I grew up in New York and moved to Arizona in order to attend law school at Arizona State University. I began my legal career as a clerk for a federal judge and then worked as a deputy county attorney at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. I am currently the Avondale city prosecutor and the El Mirage city prosecutor. I am also a criminal defense attorney for the PORAC Legal Defense Fund. I have completed numerous jury trials, both as a prosecutor and as a defense attorney, so I am very confident and well-versed with the judicial system. I am also an outside instructor with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, teaching annual training courses on the Fourth and 14th Amendments along with bias-free policing. I am an adjunct law professor teaching courses in criminal procedure, business law, ethics and contracts.
It has been an absolute pleasure working as a panel defense attorney for the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association in conjunction with PORAC’s Legal Defense Fund. The most enjoyable part of my legal career has been getting to know and working with law enforcement officers. As a panel defense attorney, I will usually meet with officers late at night or on the weekends after a critical incident regarding the use of force or an in-custody significant injury or death. I provide advice and guidance prior to an officer deciding whether to participate by providing a statement or complete interview with detectives concerning their involvement in the incident. It is important to have these confidential discussions prior to making that decision. I provide advice and perspective on how to convey certain information in the interview and walkthrough, both of which I am present for. During the interview and walkthrough, I will also ask follow-up and clarifying questions to ensure that the incident is properly documented from the perspective of the officer. The initial interview is extremely important, as all critical incidents will be reviewed by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and can lead to potential criminal charges and civil liability. The PLEA panel attorneys appointed to represent officers regarding any criminal liability work very closely with the PLEA representatives on the administrative side to ensure both aspects of any issue are handled in the light most favorable to the officer.
If you have any questions or need to reach me, call (602) 402-7952 or email alan@bklawaz.com. Thank you and be safe. PLEA
For the ninth consecutive year, PLEA Charities and Phoenix Police Officer Sean Reavie teamed up with Target store manager Jennifer Trevor to empower abused children through the Superhero Shopping Spree. Superheroes from Reavie’s Put on the Cape Foundation shopped alongside supervisors, detectives and civilian staff from the Chandler and Scottsdale Family Advocacy Centers to purchase much-needed supplies for their victim children.
“This was one of the biggest events we’ve had,” Reavie says. “Nearly $7,000 was spent from money donated by PLEA Charities.”
Customers in the store, surprised by the colorfully costumed team of superheroes, donated money, bought items and asked for photos with their favorite characters. Smiling children (and adults) posed with Batman, Captain America, Spider-Punk, Wolverine, Nightwing, Spider-Gwen and many others. Twelve shopping carts overflowed with items from each center’s wish lists, stuffed full by the superheroes and detectives.
“It was amazing to see,” Reavie says. “This is real impact. Each item was taken back to the Chandler and Scottsdale centers to give to those who need it the most.”
The Superhero Shopping Spree, the brainchild of Reavie, was first made possible by PLEA Charities and Trevor in 2015. A detective in the Crimes Against Children Unit, Reavie had introduced superhero mythology to a 9-year-old victim, completely changing his emotions from sad to happy. Now trusting him, the child told Reavie who abused him, leading to an arrest. That moment led to the first Superhero September event on September 1, 2015. During that event, then-PLEA Secretary Frank Marino and President Ken Crane donated $500 to Reavie’s cause. Seeing the event on television, Target store manager Trevor contacted Reavie, donating a $250 Target gift card.
Combining the two amounts, Reavie took Captain America and Black Widow to Trevor’s store for the very first Superhero Shopping Spree.
“Without PLEA Charities donating that money, I had no plans to have another event that year,” Reavie says. “Now, we have four shopping sprees a year, donating tens of thousands of dollars to help centers care for their child victims.”
For Chandler FAC director Katie Cain, the event is a lifesaver.
“We literally had one basket of items left,” Cain says. “We cannot thank Sean with Put on the Cape and PLEA Charities enough for the work they do to care for our victims.”
PLEA Charities was the first sponsor for what turned into a national charitable foundation and led to Reavie receiving local, state, national and international recognition for his philanthropy. Inducted into “Who’s Who in America” in 2022, Reavie received a Lifetime Achievement Award in child advocacy this year.
“I’ve been fortunate,” Reavie says. “Fortunate to have PLEA Charities believe in my mission from the beginning.” He added that PLEA Charities opened the door for companies such as Allstate, Paychex, Lerner and Rowe, Waste Management, UPS, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Arizona Cardinals to support his foundation.
With events Valley-wide, Put on the Cape promotes 5K runs, golf tournaments, car shows and the legacy Superhero Shopping Sprees, donating nearly $500,000 to help abused children in their recovery.
“I can’t thank Darrell, John, Santos, Yvette and many others from PLEA Charities enough for supplying the foundation for me to build my mission,” Reavie says. “It’s been a fantastic partnership.”
For the third year, PLEA Charities was a sponsor of AZTV’s Stuff the Bus drive in August, which provides back-to-school supplies for children and educators from communities in need across the Valley. In addition to PLEA Charities’ $10,000 donation to the campaign, members helped collect donated items, stuff backpacks and visit schools to distribute them to kids. We are so thankful to be part of this program that allows us to give back to those we serve by supporting education and equipping students for success!
