Blaine Police Department organizes salute to medical first responders

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On April 8, Whatcom County law enforcement and fire service agencies performed a “Salute to Medical First Responders.” Organized by the Blaine Police Department (BPD), the agencies drove in formation from a staging area in Bellingham to the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center.

All the emergency vehicles came to a stop in the hospital parking lot, where they remained for a short time with their emergency lights activated as a tribute to medical staff working on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. Standing in front of the main hospital entrance, health care workers clapped and held up large signs with letters that spelled the words “thank you.”

Police chief Donnell Tanksley initiated the effort. Officer Skylar Deffinbaugh coordinated agency notifications, lieutenant Ryan King conducted the follow-up notifications and event briefing, sergeant Michael Munden served as public information officer, and office specialist Tami Bhachu handled photography and videography.

The agencies that participated included the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs, the Department of Corrections, Washington State Patrol, the Fire Marshal’s Office, Fire Districts 1, 7 and 21, the South Whatcom Fire Authority, Cascade Ambulance and the police departments of Bellingham, Lummi Nation, Nooksack, Ferndale, Lynden, Everson and Western Washington University.

A video of the salute can be viewed on BPD’s Facebook page, facebook.com/BlainePoliceDepartmentWA.

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