On June 11, Largo Elks Lodge #2159 members Marcia Lowe, bar manager, and Jeanette Hammel, bartender, attended the Florida Police Chief Association awards banquet in Ponte Vedra Beach, where they, as representatives of Largo Lodge, along with Largo Police Officer Joel Quattlebaum, were the recipients of the State FPCA Operation Cooperation Award from the Police Association. Each year, the bartenders hold a blind auction in November, and all the proceeds go to the Largo Police. This partnership of the Largo Police Senior Services and the lodge has served to create an emergency assistance program fund that helps safeguard Largo seniors in need of assistance during calls for service. They have helped an elderly man who had Alzheimer’s by providing a new GPS bracelet so that he can be found quickly if he wanders. They have re-sided homes, bought groceries and medications, and paid deposits for seniors experiencing homelessness so they could get into an apartment and have a place to live. Officer Quattlebaum acts as auctioneer and lodge members bid on wrapped items without knowing what is in them to raise money for this partnership. The auctions have raised $5,000 each year for the past two years. Largo is the only police force in the state that has this Senior Citizens Department. The police chief was so proud of Officer Quattlebaum for receiving this unique award and said that he wants to see this become a statewide program where every department has a Senior Citizens Department. He also said his hometown will be starting this program.

Pictured are Marcia Lowe, Largo Elks bar manager; Officer Joel Quattlebaum, Largo Police; and Jeanette Hammel, bartender.