By Ally Morrison
In the late hours of Sunday, Jan. 23, a Vestavia Hills Police officer David Johnson and his family lost their home to a devastating house fire.
Since hearing about the fire, Vestavia Hills Police Foundation President Tom Hale has been one phone call away, eager to support the officer and his family by providing donations and immediate necessities for the family to begin the lengthy process of re-establishing their lives.
Hale said he got a call the next morning from a Vestavia Hills Police lieutenant Joel Gaston notifying him about the fire in the home of the officer, who had been with the police department for about 20 years.
“His home had apparently burned to the ground and allegedly was started by a creosote fire in the chimney when neither he nor his wife were home. Together they have two children. Everything in the home was just gone.”
Fortunately, no one was injured.
Hale said that when the call came asking whether the Vestavia Hills Police Foundation could step up and immediately help with things the family needed immediately, his response was “absolutely.” Several foundation directors immediately contributed personal resources, he said.
“The positive response and the generosity has absolutely blown my mind, with what these people have stepped up and offered,” Hale said. “I think we’ve raised around $23,000.
“We’ve had offers of people who own Airbnb houses that have offered to let them move in immediately … until their insurance has worked out. One of those specific people had even offered to have the refrigerator fully stocked and the pantry filled.
“It is heartwarming to believe that right here in the heart of ‘Roll Tide’ and ‘War Eagle,’ people from all walks of life can come together in a show of goodness, kindness and generosity for someone who is a stranger to them.”
Donations for the family are being taken through the foundation’s website, vestaviahillspolicefoundation. com. Look under the “donate” tab.
“A lot of the contributions will fund initial things such as shelter, food and hygiene products,” Hale explained. “Following that, there will be a deeper and broader assessment of all things the family has lost. We are in the process of putting together a list of clothing and shoe sizes for the family.
The Foundation Was Established to Support Police
Established in 2017, The Vestavia Hills Police Foundation’s mission is to support the Vestavia Hills Police Department, officers, their families and the city of Vestavia Hills.
The Homewood Police Foundation had been established before that, and Burke Swearingen, former Homewood Police Chief, was instrumental in working with the city to establish Vestavia Hills’ foundation, Hale said.
Hale, a partner with the Birmingham law firm of Hale Sides LLC, has recently become president of the Vestavia Hills Police Foundation.
“A 501 c3 foundation like VHPF is very meaningful in being able to help a police department with non-budgeted items, special needs or incidental matters for emergencies such as these when one of our own is in dire need.”
The foundation also strives for a collaborative effort with community groups.
“For a number of years, while I was president of the Homewood Police Foundation, annual luncheons were held at various locations such as The Club and Rosewood Hall,” Hale said.
“One thing we are hoping to accomplish with Vestavia’s Police Foundation is to incorporate an annual business luncheon to support Vestavia’s Police Department. Other things we aim to do in order to build community trust and communication is to start hosting block parties, where we can let people meet some of the officers that are regulars in different neighborhoods.”
Hale said there are other ways the foundation has worked to keep the police force in the public eye.
“One of the primary accomplishments the foundation has been able to accomplish has been the Thin Blue Line memorial in front of the police department,” Hale said. “The foundation raised an incredible amount of money in order to erect this memorial. We still have a number of brick pavers that can be purchased through donations for residents to honor family members that have served with the police department.”
According to the VHPF website, the monument was built with a mission to commemorate the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers.
“We hope to continue to develop relationships with our corporate citizens, as well, and to assist in any way we can with additional training and resources,” Hale said.
“One of my goals is to promote a weekly showcase of the good things that these officers do every day for citizens. From helping a young couple getting stuck on the way to the hospital to deliver their first baby, to changing tires or helping pull people’s pets out of storm sewers.”
