Last year, Channel 13 investigative reporter Wayne Dolcefino was "kidnapped" at the annual Houston Police Foundation bash held at the River Oaks spread of Paige and Tilman Fertitta. This year, he was unceremoniously tossed into the swimming pool — twice.

First by a new set of alleged terrorists (Landry's stockholders) and then by HPD's scuba team.

It was all part of the annual shenanigans that salute the men and women in blue.

Among the whacky events occurring Saturday: Elvis Presley arrived by police chopper for the Blue Hawaii themed fundraiser. Joanne King Herring and scores of others fired off rounds of simunition (paint filled soap bullets used in police training). The Fertittas' youngest son, Blake, joined the terrorist gang. Fireworks lighted up the sky several times. Hawaiian dancers and servers in grass skirts and bikini tops provided crowd-pleasing eye candy.

Scores of uniformed police covered the grounds and hovered on the property periphery leading Police Chief Charles McClelland Jr. to quip that the Fertittas had "the most secure backyard in the city." How many officers were there among the horseback, canine, scuba, SWAT and undercover teams? No official count, thank you.

We can say that there were 600 supporters ponying up a minimum $500 each for the privilege of mixing and mingling across the Fertitta playground, rubbing elbows with the officers and picking up their dinners from the bountiful buffet tables. Among the top gun supporters on hand were Paul Somerville, Bobbie and John Nau, Carol and Mike Linn, Blake Tartt III, Edna Meyer-Nelson and Chris and Don Sanders.

Applause, applause for dinner chair Laura Ward and for emcee Dave Ward, Channel 13 news anchor. The Fertittas served as event chairs and the Naus as honorary chairs.

Among those sitting at tables centered with faux palm trees were Sunny Sue and Mac Haik, Hershey Grace and John Moritz, Connie and Clayton Cooke, Diane Lokey Farb, Mark Sullivan, Soraya and Scott McClelland, Jan Carson and Tim Connolly and Rusty Hardin, whose son is a member of the SWAT team.