Behind the Badge
California Pizza Kitchen in Beverly Hills will (unofficially) become “California Police-A-Kitchen” on Saturday when officers don black aprons and serve the restaurant’s clientele.
As part of a fundraiser, CPK will donate 20% of all checks to the support BHPD’s “Baker to Vegas” race team.
“Officers are the cornerstone of any community, and anything we can do to support our community and give back, we want to do,” said Marcus Tjajadi, senior area marketing partner for California Pizza Kitchen.
What is remarkable about this fundraiser is that CPK reached out to BHPD, said Sunday Arriaga, a BHPD motorcycle officer who is serving as co-team captain with his brother Phillip Arriaga, a Special Projects officer.
Lt. Gio Trejo makes his way near the front of the race during Sunday’s Vahagn Setian Annual Memorial Run/Walk. Setian was killed in 2006 by a DUI driver and the annual event is held to raise money to fund drunk driving educational campaigns.
“They reached out and told us they want to do a fundraiser to help support our Baker to Vegas team,” Sunday Arriaga said. “They are so generous and supportive.”
The Baker to Vegas Relay is the largest law enforcement event of its kind in the world, drawing teams from Canada, Germany and law enforcement departments throughout the U.S. Participating in the event promotes camaraderie and fitness among law enforcement, and Arriaga said he has been moved by the community’s interest in helping BHPD officers fund their involvement in the race.
“Lululemon is giving every runner a shirt and the Lalezary Law Firm has made a generous donation to our team. Black & White Car Rental is comping the rental vans that we need for communications and logistics during the race,” Arriaga said. “The community support that we enjoy in Beverly Hills is really unique.”
Participants cross the starting line during at the Vahagn Setian Annual Memorial Run/Walk, which served as a qualifier for the upcoming Baker to Vegas Relay Race. Setian was killed in 2006 by a DUI driver and his family strongly supports the Beverly Hills Police Dept.
Some of the 20 runners and five alternates who will participate in the relay qualified for the team in December at the 9th annual Vahagn Setian Charitable Foundation Memorial 5k Event. The Setian family began the 5K to honor the memory of their son Vahagn, who was tragically killed at the age of 17 by a DUI driver on South Beverly Drive in 2006, and the family has also been supportive of BHPD.
The community’s support of BHPD is a reflection of the safety and security that the community feels from the department, Tjajadi said.
“We have a great relationship with the police here in town,” he said. “Anything that can shed a real and positive light is important.”
The Baker to Vegas Relay fundraiser will take place all day at California Pizza Kitchen, 207 S. Beverly Dr.
