For A GOOD CAUSE -- Earl Fusselman

Mathis Winkler

When Earl Fusselman signed up for the Newport Beach police

department’s Citizens’ Police Academy in the fall of 1998, his volunteer

plate was pretty much full.

Once a week, he’d deliver meals on wheels; another day he’d work as a

clerk at a hospice. He also served on the American Legion Post 291 board

and had been a Rotary Club member for more than 50 years.

But apparently that wasn’t enough for the retired real estate broker.

“I just wanted something to do,” the 83-year-old said. “And this was

something different.”

After graduating from the academy, Fusselman signed on with the

department as a volunteer. And for the second time in his life, he

received a police badge. The police department in Huntington Park had

issued the first one in 1965 when Fusselman was elected as a City Council

member there.

The badge “said ‘councilman’ instead of ‘volunteer,”’ the Bayside

Drive resident said, adding that he’s probably spent more hours

volunteering than he did working before he retired in 1988.

While he’s still involved with the American Legion and Rotary, he

gives about 35 to 40 hours of his time to the police department every

month, he said.

On Tuesday, Fusselman and another volunteer patrolled parking lots for

four hours and wrote tickets to those illegally parked in handicapped

spots or fire lanes.

He also edits a quarterly volunteer newsletter about the city’s police

volunteers that gets distributed to police officials.

And then there’s his weekly “milk run” on Wednesday, when Fusselman

delivers city mail to Newport Beach’s seven City Council members.

“Rain or shine, it has to be done,” he said.

He picks up the packages at city hall and spends more than two hours

crisscrossing Newport Beach to get information to the city’s leaders.

Usually, it’s around three to four pounds a package but recently,

they’ve weighed as much as 15 to 20 pounds.

“I almost got a hernia from carrying all these,” he said, laughing.

Since Fusselman leaves the packages on council members’ door steps --

just like the milk man would with his bottles -- he mainly knows Newport

Beach’s decision makers from watching council meetings on television.

He’s met a couple of them, though, and the wife of another.

And while Fusselman had to pick up council packages in Huntington Park

himself, he said he’s glad to be of service.

“I know that the council people are busy,” he said.

FYI

For information on the police department’s Citizens’ Police Academy,

which is a required first step in becoming a police volunteer, call (949)

644-3662.