The chase...

Photo courtesy of Sam Zomer

Sirens rang out and engines roared breaking the morning quiet.  A police chase was making its way around the usually quiet streets of Portage.  A robbery had occurred and police were in hot pursuit of the suspects in their vehicle.  As the chase neared the Celery Flats Park, the fleeing vehicle crashed through a fence and slid to a stop.  Just as quick as the vehicle came to a stop; its occupants jumped out and continued to flee from the police on foot.  But soon dozens of officers were off after them combing the area, collecting contraband and apprehending the suspects.  The results: all of the suspects were captured and their contraband was recovered.

Was this a story ripped from the local police blotter?  No, it was the setting of the eighth annual Kazoo Area Foot Chase which took place in Portage on Saturday, September 12, 2009.  Close to 150 brave runners set out on a 3.5 mile adventure course around central Portage to chase suspects who fled from the scene of a staged criminal incident that they just witnessed.  Meanwhile another 20 heroic walkers combed a 1 mile stretch of Portage’s Bi-Centennial Parkway for another group of wanted individuals before they too were all apprehended.

The Kazoo Area Foot Chase is a pair of zany running and walking events held each September in Portage by a group of Kalamazoo area police officers.  The event benefits Michigan Concerns of Police Survivors (MI-COPS), a non-profit group that helps family members and co-workers when a law enforcement officer is killed in the line of duty.  Dave Ostrem, one of the event organizers and a police officer in Mattawan, has experienced first hand how MI-COPS can help both an officer’s family and his or her agency after a line of duty death.  In 2005 Ostrem’s co-worker, Officer Scot Beyerstedt, of the Mattawan force was killed when his police cruiser crashed into a tree during a police chase.  Ostrem contacted MI-COPS almost immediately and they soon were in town helping Beyerstedt’s family and co-workers deal with their loss as well as arranging and coordinating the officer’s funeral.  “They (MI-COPS) were like a band of angels who swooped in and lifted us up during a very difficult time” Ostrem said.  Ostrem added “Planning a full scale law enforcement funeral is like planning a 300 guest wedding reception except that with the funeral you only have a few days to pull it together.”  In the case of a small agency like Mattawan, they couldn’t have done it without MI-COPS’ help.

Beyond planning and coordinating law enforcement funerals, MI-COPS is around to support a fallen officer’s family and co-workers for as long as need is there.  Assistance is given through a variety of support groups and events to help the survivors cope with their loss.  Yet, MI-COPS never charges for their services, noting that the price paid by a fallen officer’s survivors is already too great.  Therefore, fundraisers like the annual Kazoo Area Foot Chase are important to keep the support available.

In addition to the running and walking events, those who showed up at Celery Flats Saturday morning were also treated to a wide range of police related exhibits and demonstrations.  Police tactical teams, The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s underwater rescue team, the sheriff’s mounted division and a Taser demonstration were part of the mix.  Next year’s event will take place on Saturday, September 11, 2010.  Visit www.kazoofootchase.com for more information on the Kazoo Area Foot Chase or MI-COPS.