Richmond’s downtown and Historic Depot Districts could have as many as 1,000 motorcycles and cars – or even more – in town Sunday for a fundraiser to benefit wounded Richmond Police Department Officer Seara Burton.
Here’s an update/announcement about several fundraisers and other forms of support being offered to her family.
Community concern continues
On Sept. 3, Burton was transferred from Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, to a hospice facility in the Richmond area. Police Chief Mike Britt and Majors Jon Bales and Aly Tonuc requested privacy for Burton.
RPD began sharing daily updates on social media about Burton’s condition, but there were no significant changes as of press time on Sept. 12. One post noted Burton’s K9 partner, Brev, has visited her on many occasions.
The suspect in Burton’s shooting, Phillip Matthew Lee, was booked into the Montgomery County (Ohio) Jail on Saturday. He had been hospitalized since his Aug. 10 arrest.
During Labor Day weekend, area residents wrote messages and drew pictures for Burton and her family on luminaria bags. Volunteers set out white bags, sand and markers for community use. Luminarias lined the sidewalk in front of Burton’s flower-covered SUV on the Richmond Municipal Building’s front lawn.
Upcoming fundraisers
Participants of a large motorcycle ride expect to gather Sunday morning in Richmond’s downtown and Depot districts before heading toward Harrison, Ohio.
Riders then will return to town without escorts for a dinner at American Legion Post 65, 109 N. Sixth St.
A few other ways to help:
* Texas Roadhouse on Richmond’s east side is donating 10 percent of all food sales on Wednesday, Sept. 14, to support Burton’s family.
* Richmond Fire Fighters Local 1408 members and their spouses/significant others, called the RFD Flames, are organizing a Birdies for Burton Golf Outing to benefit RPD’s Blue Angels Fund. It starts at 1 p.m. Sept. 16 at Elks Country Club, 2100 U.S. 27 in Richmond. Non-golfers are invited to participate in a 50/50 raffle and a raffle auction of items donated by local businesses from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and a longest putt competition costing $10 for three balls from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Auction brings more than $55K
More than $55,000 was raised during a two-night live online auction for the Burton fund that’s part of RPD’s Blue Angels Fund.
“There are so many caring people in our community and there’s so much good,” said Lori Troutwine, who credits a team of volunteers and donors for making the fundraiser possible. “Bad things happen here but people overshadow them with the good.”
Troutwine, who grew up as a policeman’s daughter and now owns Luxe Lizzies Boutique, said her only goal was to help local officers, whom she still considers family.
The auction was planned as a one-night event, but it continued for about eight hours, pausing at about 2 a.m. as viewership dropped and their next-day responsibilities loomed. Troutwine and her team of volunteers returned on another night for nearly another six hours of auctioning to maximize the giving opportunities.