Fundraiser Planned for Injured Mason District Officer Dinh

The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 77, along with officers from the Mason District Station of the Fairfax County Police Department, will host a fundraising event this month to collect money for officer Long V. Dinh Jr.'s rehabilitation fund.

Dinh was injured in a head-on collision crash in February and was hospitalized for much of March. According to a website set up for family and friends to follow Dinh's progress, Dinh is now recovering in a rehab facility.

The fundraiser will be on Sunday, April 28 at Hard Times Cafe located at 4069 Chain Bridge Rd., in Fairfax from noon to 7 p.m. Hard Times will donate a portion of the night's sales to Dinh and his family.

Lt. Archie Pollard, assistant commander of Mason District Station, said the goal of the fundraising initiative is "an endeavor for the unknown."

"There's nothing better than pre-planning. It's simply his brothers and sisters in law enfrocement doing some thinking ahead," said Pollard at Tuesday night's Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting.

Anyone interested in donating to the fundraiser can purchase a raffle ticket. Raffle tickets are one for $10 and three tickets for $25. Raffle prizes include gift cards to local restaurants such as Silverado, massages from Massage Envy, Marriot Hotel gift certificates, Washington Redskins and Washington Capitals gear, among other things. The winner of the raffle will be announced at Hard Times the night of the fundraiser.

Fairfax Lodge 77 is also accepting donations through the PayPal account that was set up in March for Dinh.

To buy raffle tickets, residents can contact Officer Courtney K. Young at Courtney.Young@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Related stories:

• Injured Officer Long 'Junior' V. Dinh Remains Hospitalized Two Weeks After Head-on Crash
• Capt. Lee: Injured Mason District Officer 'Has Long Recovery Road Ahead'
• Mason District Station Officer Injured in Collision Remains in Stable Condition