According to Em Spark high school staff member Pat Kripps, the community and Wayzata police officers plan on honoring the fallen officer Bill Mathews at the Wayzata to the Wall fundraiser Nov. 17.

“What this is is it’s a benefit to honor the sacrifice of officer Matthews and the Wayzata Police Department,” Kripps said.

Kripps said all of the money raised at the event goes toward a trip to Washington DC for Police Week and the events surrounding National Peace Offers Memorial Day in May of next year.

“The fundraiser is to raise money not only for the family, but also for the Wayzata Police Officers to also go and be part of that,” Kripps said.

Freshman Sam Hunt said he feels the benefit provides an appropriate opportunity to honor officer Bill Mathews.

“Commemorating someone who has died recently is definitely honorable,” Hunt said. “I definitely think it’s a great idea.”

According to Kripps, the fundraiser’s planning committee includes someof Mathews’ fellow police officers.

“It’s actually being planned by an organization called Renegade Pigs of Minnesota and it’s a motorcycle police officer group and they’re actually the ones planning it,” Kripps said.

Kripps said she encourages Park students and families to support the Mathews family.

“If kids want to tell their parents to come out and support the cause, there’s also another one called Jingle Mingle for Mathews on Nov. 30 and that’s at the Wayzata Brew Works,” Kripps said.

Freshman Nick Lanoux said he feels community members should attend the benefit to commemorate officer Mathews.

“Yes, I do think it’s a good idea to have a fundraiser in honor of Bill Mathews,” Lanoux said. “I think it would be a good thing to go to.”