Dear Editor,

I want to thank Kim Van Meter and The Oakdale Leader for showcasing the efforts of the Oakdale Police Department’s Senior Outreach Program, one of many outstanding CAPS programs operating within the Oakdale Police Department. There are currently over 30 dedicated CAPS volunteers who provide a wide range of support for the community and the police department nearly every day of the week. Without their help, the police department would truly struggle to provide the quality of services the community currently enjoys. The Senior Outreach program is very special and unique in that it provides a much-needed service for a growing population of seniors who live alone and find it difficult to obtain the most basic of services. I have been in law enforcement for many years, but I have yet to find another police agency that has a group of volunteers who dedicate themselves to visiting seniors to provide companionship and to assist them in getting the kind of help that most of us take for granted. Oakdale is really blessed to have such an outstanding group of police volunteers who give so much of themselves to make Oakdale such a nice place to live. Please join with me in thanking them for all they do.

Sincerely,

Marty West

Chief of Police