- December 24, 2024
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Bunnell Police Department Sgt. Shane Growth and Commissioner Bob Barnes. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Diane Stade with City of Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Volunteer Jaylin Montalvo. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Volunteer Drew Stade. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Volunteer Justin Stade. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Volunteer Vinnie Fiscaletti. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
City of Bunnell Commisioner and Commissioner of the Community Redevelopment Agency, Bob Barnes. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Pat Cody of Haw Creek Farm and Home 4H Club and Denise Calderwood, Flagler County Commission Candidate. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Bunnell Police Department David Brannon, Chief of Police with Tommy Tucker, US Marine veteran. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Bunnell Police Department David Brannon, Chief of Police addresses the volunteers before operations. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
City of Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson (White T-shirt) and Rommel Scalf (far right) Bunnell Police Department PSO. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Clean-up volunteers. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Clean-up volunteers, and School District Superintendent Jill Woolbright (2nd from Right.) Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Pastor Larry Hobbs and Silas Hobbs of Flagler County Baptist Church. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Volunteers Jeremy Natel and Simeon Hobbs. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Clean-up volunteer Tammy Kook. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Carelessness creates unnecessary work for others. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Volunteers deep in the weeds. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Debris collected. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Sandy Carter, Volunteer representing First Baptist Christian. Academy. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Rommel Scalf, Bunnell Police Department PSO. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Rommel Scalf, Bunnell Police Department PSO. Supporting the volunteers with water, supplies and bug spray. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Rommel Scalf, Bunnell Police Department PSO, City of Bunnell Commisioner and Commissioner of the Community Redevelopment Agency, Bob Barnes and Denise Calderwood, Flagler County Commission Candidate. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Twin volunteers Tiyona and Tyona Ash. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
The debris piles up quickly. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Volunteers Justyn Green, Jul, Jordyn and DJ. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Volunteers Marcus and Joy Sanfillippo and Donelle Evensen. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Pastor Larry Hobbs and crew. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Retired U.S. Air Force veteran Thomas Tucker, still contributing and serving the community. Photo by Danny Broadhurst
Community Volunteer Yvette Leslie, US Army veteran, world traveler and a resident of Palm Coast. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Volunteer Teresa Shaw with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and Bunnell Police Department Chief of Police David Brannon. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Volunteers sweeping the neighborhoods. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Retired Marine Veteran Thomas Tucker, and Community Volunteer Yvette Leslie, US Army veteran. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Rommel Scalf, Bunnell Police Department PSO kept the volunteers hydrated, and provided cleanup materials and plenty of bug spray. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Joshua Brannon volunteered technical expertise and labor to mow the uninhabited green spaces alongside streets. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
Homeowners joined with volunteers to cleanup the neighborhood. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
A great deal of trash was removed by the volunteers. Photo by Danny Broadhurst.
City of Bunnell Police Department Chief David Brannon explained the purpose of Bunnell Cleanup Day, on June 18, this way: “After arriving in Bunnell in late February, residents and community leaders in South Bunnell told me a breakdown in trust existed between the community and the police. Residents wanted to see change in that relationship to improve the safety of their children. 'Frankly,' I was told, ‘The people in this neighborhood don’t trust you (the police). They have to see you care. You can’t just say it.’ I heard what this trusted community leader was saying: Actions speak louder than words.”
In response, the Bunnell Police Department proactively patrolled South Bunnell along with partners at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
"Internally, we created a Community Outreach team where an idea arose from a team members’ past law enforcement experience in a similar community where the police led a cleanup day," Brannon said. "With that idea in mind, we created 'We Love Bunnell.' We broke up into teams and addressed certain properties while asking other residents if we could help clean up their lawn and remove fallen tree branches, old furniture or appliances, and any other debris we encountered. Ultimately, we wanted this specific community to know we all care about them. By lifting them up, we can lift up the entire community."
Brannon added that the Bunnell Police Department officers engage with young people at Carver Community Center and Flagler Bulldogs football practices whenever possible. He hopes to host a Cops & Kids dodgeball game, noon to 5 p.m., on July 2, including a barbecue, bounce houses, and a water slide.
"We welcome the support and attendance of the entire community,” Brannon said.
Volunteers attended the cleanup lightly dressed with gardening-style gloves, hats and sunscreen. Each team was led by a Bunnell police officer. Garbage bags and refreshments were provided.
“We’re pouring our heart and sweat out in this effort, and others to come, both in community policing and enforcement," Brannon said, "so we can make Bunnell the best little city in the country.”
