Law Enforcement Officers Spread Holiday Cheer with Hospital Visits

RIVERSIDE (CNS) - Law enforcement agencies throughout Riverside County will resume their ``Holiday Cheer'' campaign tomorrow, parading around hospitals in patrol units with lights and sirens going to boost staff and patients' spirits this Christmas.

The campaign got underway today with visits to medical facilities in the Coachella Valley, as well as Riverside University Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente in the Moreno Valley.

Tuesday's patrol car parades will take place exclusively in the western half of the county, officials said.

``This coordinated effort of over 25 local, state and federal agencies will travel a total of over 300 miles and visit 30 hospitals,'' according to a joint Riverside Police Department and Riverside County Sheriff's Department statement.

Tuesday's visits are slated to get underway at 10:15 a.m., beginning at Hemet Global Medical Center. The following locations will then be visited at the designated times:

-- Menifee Global Medical Center at 11 a.m.;

-- Kaiser Permanente-Murrieta at 11:30 a.m.;

-- Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta at noon;

-- Rancho Springs Medical Center, Temecula, at 12:45 p.m.;

-- Temecula Valley Hospital at 1:15 p.m.;

-- Inland Valley Medical Center, Wildomar, at 2 p.m.;

-- Corona Regional Medical Center at 3 p.m.;

-- Kaiser Permanente-Riverside at 3:45 p.m.;

-- Parkview Community Hospital, Riverside, at 4:15 p.m.;

-- Riverside Community Hospital at 4:30 p.m.; and

-- Loma Linda University Medical Center at 6 p.m.

``With lights and sirens activated, law enforcement officers hope to spread much holiday cheer,'' according to the statement, emphasizing that the gesture is especially important for the medical personnel ``who have worked around the clock over the last two years to keep the community safe.''