FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Fresno County’s Sheriff’s Office and Department of Public Health are partnering with the Fresno Grizzlies for “Parker’s Posse” youth program.
500 students from eight Fresno County elementary schools, many of whom have never been to a Grizzlies game, will join Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims and Grizzlies mascot, Parker, on the field to become Parker’s Posse Deputies.
“He’s going to raise his right hand, and swear an oath to be a great reserve deputy sheriff. He’s also going to be flying in with me on Eagle One (below), landing at Chukchansi Ballpark on the field and then the whole purpose is tobacco awareness,” said Sheriff Mims.
The new program “Parker’s Posse” will discourage smoking or vaping to help improve public health, and strengthen law enforcement relationships.
Each member of Parker’s Posse will receive a special badge along with a team set of Parker’s Posse baseball cards depicting members of the Grizzlies team, Sheriff’s Office, and other partners in this special program.
The inaugural Parker’s Posse Deputies include students from Calwa School (Fresno), Mayfair Elementary (Fresno), Biola Pershing (Fresno), Pinedale Elementary (Pinedale), Caruthers Elementary (Caruthers), Malaga Elementary (Fresno), Foothill Elementary (Prather), and Dunlap Elementary (Dunlap).
Pre-game festivities begin at 6:15 p.m. with a Parker’s Posse parade, and the swearing in presentation at 6:25 p.m.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
