Around noon in Historic Downtown Vista last Saturday October 15, 2016, over 200 bike riders roared into the parking lots and open spaces surrounding Mother Earth Brewery at Main Street and N. Indiana Ave. in downtown.
Two deputies were shot in Lakeside 5 years ago, Ollie Perez and Craig Johnson. They were both critically injured but both survived.
Captain James Bovet of the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department started this fundraiser “Save the Bacon” because it was something he thought he could do, even though he wasn’t sure how, to help raise money to support the Deputy Sheriff Foundation which supports families in need. “I put something together in 2011, and we raised about $14,000 in 2 months that first year. Every year it has grown bigger and I now have a committee from the Deputy Sheriff’s Association that helps me put this together,” he stated.
“When a deputy is injured, the whole family has to support that person and the income is really an issue even though they still receive their pay when injured. A loved one usually has to stop working to help that person as their wounds heal, and it could take years, and sometimes never. That’s why we do it, to support the families.”
“Today we had well over 200 bikes and we always have a tremendous raffle where we give away gifts and prizes. For instance, Barona Indian Reservation has contributed money to this fundraiser this year. Of course, Mother Earth always supports us and we receive a percentage of the sales at their Downtown Vista location. Lowe’s Coronado and the Hotel Del Coronado supports us and we actually have firearm gifts through our DSA store. Gift certificates from Cycle Gear, El Cajon Harley Davidson, and others, donate prizes so we can raffle them off. All the proceeds, minus our overhead which we try to keep as small as possible, and everything else goes directly into our Deputy Sheriff’s Foundation Charity,” said Captain Bovet.
This morning was started at the Deputy Sheriff’s Association in Poway and the ride went through Rancho Santa Fe and Del Mar, then up through the 101 Hwy up to Oceanside, then on the 78 to Mother Earth. It took about 2 hours drive and arriving here. The riders are from law enforcement, firemen, military and many others who support law enforcement in general.
If you would like to donate to “Save the Bacon”, contact Captain James Bovet at james.bovet@sdsheriff.org.
