01/09/2026
A note about appreciation on L.E Appreciation Day:
About 90% of the officers we've hosted through BLO are from outside shasta/tehama counties, however, that's where about 75% of the events have taken place so far.
Local businesses, individuals, POA's, guides, local Deputies/Officers/spouses have been incredibly supportive and generous. Not 1 single person has EVER questioned whether the participants are local or why they are on trips with us. These folks support and genuinely care about our LE no matter where they hail from and are excited to share the outdoor resources Northern CA has to offer. I could probably argue that many, many other communities are similar.
Many donors and volunteers have traveled from great distances, and at the expense of their own time and money, over and over again, with never a question whether the participants are from a particular agency, area, special unit, or have been involved in a particular incident. I believe this speaks to a deep appreciation that does not always have a conduit to flow through.
There is a great appreciation for what the men and women of Law Enforcement do every day, not just on "that day". It's not always obvious when you are out there pulling a beat and dealing with so many people who are having a terrible day, however, over the course of the last several years, we have witnessed appreciation come in many different forms from very diverse demographics with many community members stating they want to help; want to show appreciation, but just don't know how or what is appropriate.
Believe me, when we first started doing this, you'd be hard pressed to find someone more cynical than me about support and appreciation. These days my perspective has changed a bit. Yes, the haters are the loudest, and being constantly blasted with that negativity is toxic! To all the coppers out there trust me when I tell you there are good people that truly support LE but just aren't loud about it.... -Jason