C.P.Y.C. Board:

President  Greg Garrett – Retired Lieutenant (Alameda Police Dept.)

Vice-President Terry McManus – Captain (San Diego Police Dept.)

Secretary Mark Gillmore – Chief of Police (Brawley Police Dept.)

Treasurer Stan Hellekson – Private Business

Sgt. At Arms  Tony “The Tiger” Lopez – 3X World Champion Boxer

HIstorian John Eaton – Retired UPS

Board Member John Tournour –FOX Sports Radio

Board Member Crystal Mitchell

Greg Garrett worked for the Alameda Police Department for over 30 years, retiring as a Lieutenant.  He worked a variety of assignments, including Homicide, Narcotics Unit Supervisor, Traffic Commander, and SWAT Commander. He currently works for the Oakland Raiders, and has his own Private Investigation/Security Consulting Business. His volunteer work includes 38 years with the National Ski Patrol at Heavenly Ski Resort, many youth sports programs, including coaching boy’s baseball at Alameda High School, and coaching girl’s softball. Greg is married with two grown daughters and resides in Castro Valley.

Terry McManus has been a police officer in California for nearly 20 years and has worked a variety of patrol assignments including training, neighborhood policing, beach enforcement and SWAT.  In addition to his patrol assignments, Terry has supervised detective teams within the Domestic Violence unit, the Narcotics unit, and most recently the Street Gang unit.  Terry is currently the Executive Officer of the San Diego Police Department’s SWAT team. Terry and his wife Illyana have been married for 15 years.  Together,they enjoy the challenges of raising three young boys ages 14, 12 and 9.  Much of their time is spent volunteering with organizations such as Little League, A.Y.S.O., P.T.A. organizations, as well as their local church.  Terry and his family reside in San Diego.

Chief Mark Gillmore - Brawley Police Department

Mark Gillmore began his career in Huntington Beach Police Department after spending six years in the Navy aboard submarines. He began working for the Brawley Police Department in 1991 and has worked in all areas of the police department. After eight months of service in patrol, Mark was assigned as the lead Adult Crimes Investigator. He was promoted to Sergeant and then Lieutenant where he was in command of the Services Division. Mark was appointed Chief of Police of Brawley, California in 2005. Mark has been involved with non-profit management for many years as the President of the Brawley Police Activities League. He is married with three sons and resides in Brawley, California.

Stan Hellekson is by trade and hobby a professional fly fisherman. He created his Fly Fishing company in the Sacramento area from the ground up. His company became one of the most successful retail specialty fly fishing stores in the country. Stan has fished for countless species of fish in every corner of the world. Having recently sold his business after 30 years, Stan is in sales in Northern California.

Tony “The Tiger” Lopez is a 3X World Champion boxer who won World Titles in the Junior Lightweight, Lightweight & Junior Welterweight divisions of professional boxing. Tony compiled a pro record of 58 wins, 8 losses and 1 draw against some of the best boxers of his era. Tony fought three “wars” with John John Molina, gave Julio Caesar Chavez all he could handle, and beat the heavily favored Rocky Lockridge in what was named the “Fight of the Year” in 1987. Tony was a ferocious fighter who felt that somebody should get “knocked out,” thus making him a fan favorite. Tony is married and has a beautiful daughter. He resides in Sacramento where he runs his very successful Tony “The Tiger” Bail Bonds.

John Eaton worked for 20 years as an employee of the United Parcel Service in the Sacramento area. After a successful college baseball career, John got involved in supporting youth programs as a volunteer.  He was a coach for the Special Olympics for many years and has dedicated himself, along with his wife, to raising his four sons. Always eager to help when called upon, John even stepped into at the last minute into the boxing ring at the Brawley Battle of the Badges to help raise money for kids. Having no experience in the sport of boxing, “Big Papa” Eaton fought gallantly but concluded his first boxing bout with a defeat. He vowed to survive the experience and that he did, stating, “I did it for the kids.” He is also an avid photographer who can be seen as our volunteer photographer at CPYC events.

JT The Brick is a native New Yorker who was dubbed JT The Brick by Jim Rome after winning Jim Rome’s ‘Smack Off” on the popular radio sports talk show. JT joined Fox Sports Radio in 2001 where is the host of his own “Game Time React” Talk Show that is broadcast in 175 affiliates across the country. This makes his show the largest evening sports talk show in America. JT has also been the host of the Oakland Raiders “Behind the Shield” television show as well as the “Raiders Report.” JT was the host of the Oakland Raiders pre-game and post-game radio shows for that past six years. He is also a weekly columnist for MSNBC.com. JT is married and has two sons while living in Las Vegas.

Crystal Mitchell is an Attorney who resides in the Sacramento area. She became involved with California Police Youth Charities when a tragedy struck her family. Her husband and the father to her six year old son, was gunned down while working as a Deputy Sheriff in Sacramento County in October of 2006. Her family received resources from CPYC after this incident and she was so inspired by the work we do at CPYC that she asked if she could take on a more active role in the organization. She was elected to the Board of Directors shortly thereafter and she has been instrumental in creating the Children of Heroes Wish Program that is helping children and families of officers who have experienced an in the line of duty death. Crystal brings her background in law and a passion for helping others to this organization.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR  Chris Eaton

Chris Eaton is the Executive Director of California Police Youth Charities. He began his law enforcement career in the City of Chula Vista, California where he was a Reserve Police Officer for two years.  After a year as a Tribal Police Officer on a San Diego County Indian reservation, Chris went to work as a patrol officer for the City of Brawley. After working as a patrol officer and Field Training Officer for six years, Chris was assigned as the lead Adult Crimes Investigator for the next three years. While assigned to the Investigations Division, Chris saw the need for a unique youth crime prevention program in Brawley. He founded the Brawley Police Activities League in 1997 which quickly grew from a small program to reaching over 1500 kids within the community. Chris was reassigned full time to the Brawley PAL where the program has prospered for many years. After being promoted to Sergeant, Chris was reassigned to patrol as a supervisor where he sustained a career ending neck injury. Forced to retire from the police force, Chris continued on as the Executive Director of the Brawley PAL. He is a former member of the Board of Directors for Lincoln, California Police Activities League, the California Police Athletic/Activities League and the National Police Athletic League. He has been a board member of many non-profit organizations including the Brawley Boys and Girls Club, The Imperial County Child Abuse Prevention Council, The Imperial County Law Enforcement Charity Foundation as well as numerous others. Chris has devoted his life to helping kids in need and will continue to do so while leading the California Police Youth Charities organization. He is married with two daughters and a son.

Volunteer:

Jim Eaton - Web Master