Fri, 22 Oct 2004, 12:15 PM Force Among those Helping Brea Police Effort

Courtesy of Dave Densmore

BREA, Calif. –- Brea Police Chief Michael Messina at 1 p.m. on Thursday will accept a check for $77,000 from a group that includes 12-time NHRA Funny Car Champion and current POWERade points leader John Force.

The money will be used to purchase 50 life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for the city's police vehicles.

Others involved in the project include professional basketball veteran Karl Malone of the Los Angeles Lakers, Gabriel Tirador, CEO of Brea-based Mercury Insurance Group, and Brea businessman Dwight Manley.

"We are very appreciative of the efforts of our four contributors," Chief Messina said. "Their actions serve as an example of the substantive change which can occur when members of the private and public sector collaborate to find innovative solutions to problems facing our communities.

"As a direct result of their generosity, lives will be saved. On behalf of the communities we serve and the men and women of the Brea Police Department, I offer my sincere gratitude to all those who participated in this project."

Manley first approached Chief Messina about the project earlier this year and indicated that Malone, a friend and client, and Mercury Insurance, which employs 1,600 people, also wanted to be involved. Force, a 20-year resident of Yorba Linda, was the last to come on board.

"It's great to be a part of something that gives back to the community," Force said. "We have defibrillators on our team transporters. It just makes sense to have them on all the police vehicles. You never know when you're going to need them."