Wednesday, August 25, 2010 was a special day for the PBA and the PBF.  Earlier this year PBA members in Huntersville met Dennis Brewer, a citizen in Huntersville, whose son works for Joe Gibbs Racing as a member of Joey Lagono’s Pit Crew.  Through this connection several items were secured for the PBF auction as part of the 4^th Annual “George Almond” Officer of the Year Banquet in Carry, NC.  The items were a big hit and a big part of the auction.  To show our appreciation we ordered a plaque of appreciation and presented it to the staff at Joe Gibbs Racing.  Beth Hutchens, Daniel Clark, George Almond and Joyce Plouff also attended the presentation and they are featured in your latest issued of the PBA Blue Review magazine.  For those that may not know; Beth Hutchens’ husband, Officer Mickey Hutchens of the Winston-Salem Police Department, was shot and killed in the line of duty on October 7, 2009 by Monte Evans while pursuing Monte Evans on foot stemming from a domestic dispute .  Winston-Salem Officer Daniel Clark was on the call with Mickey Hutchens and he was shot twice, but was able to return fire killing Evans. Mrs. Hutchens explained how helpful the PBA death benefit was as expenses piled up after her husband’s death.  Joyce Pluff’s husband, Winston-Salem Sergeant John Pluff, was killed in the line of duty in 2007 and she was instrumental in assisting the PBA with legislation that enhanced benefits for the survivors of officers killed in the line of duty (SB411).   Mr. Roger Philips, Director of Safety and Facilities at Joe Gibbs Racing gave us all a very welcome tour of the facility.  The highlight of the days was meeting Joe Gibbs.  He took time out of his busy schedule to give those of us in attendance an autographed book. 

For those that may not know, The Police Benevolent Foundation is a charitable arm of the PBA which provides aid to the families of our fallen members, scholarships to well deserving youth and funding for law enforcement officers in times of natural and man-made disasters.