Women's Club presents gifts to police

New Tampa officers get a gas grill, a picnic table and seven chairs as well as money to purchase an animal noose.

By MICHAEL SANDLER

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 18, 2000

HUNTER'S GREEN -- Seven police officers arrived as special luncheon guests at the Hunter's Green Country Club. By the time they left, they were better prepared to do a little cooking and hosting of their own.

The Hunter's Green Women's Club presented the officers who patrol New Tampa with a new gas grill, a picnic table and seven chairs to be used at the District II station at 30th Street and Busch Boulevard.

"So now they can entertain," the club's outgoing president, Linda Restall, said to a room filled with laughter. She also presented the police officers, who have a substation in the firehouse, with a check to purchase a noose, something they had requested for trapping a panther and other wild animals in the area.

The crowd of about 50 members also gathered to welcome Kathy Sollie as the club's new president.

Tampa police Maj. Carl Davis, the commanding officer at District II, accepted the gifts on behalf of the department, but quickly deferred to the sergeant in charge of 25 officers who patrol the 22-mile New Tampa area.

Sgts. Jack Ragsdale and Bob Weinhold graciously thanked the women for the gift. Officer Mike Spirk, who is stationed at the firehouse, accepted the check for the trapping noose.

"It's one thing to come out here and do your job for 20 years, putting bad people in jail," said Ragsdale, who oversees Squad 53. "It's another thing to be thanked."

"We can't do our job unless we get help from the community," said Weinhold, in charge of Squad 73. "We really appreciate the donation and the support."

-- Michael Sandler can be reached at (813) 226-3472 or sandler@sptimes.com.

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