Charlottesville Police Foundation
The Charlottesville Police Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization of local citizens who help our police get the tools and training they need to do their best work. [1]
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Background
The Charlottesville Police Department is being transformed from a reactive force focused on arresting lawbreakers to one that is creatively connecting with the community to solve specific problems.
However, as in most cities, a large portion of the Charlottesville Police Department budget goes to pay for salaries and vehicles. And with high housing costs in the area, very few officers can afford to live in the city they serve.
Founded in 2004 by a group of local citizens, the Foundation helps the department address these and other issues by providing advanced training, new technologies and equipment, housing assistance, structured community outreach and other support.
Programs
ADVANCED TRAINING
An important part of the Charlottesville Police Foundation’s (CPF) mission is to help the Charlottesville Police Department get the training they need to do their best work. The CPF board invites legal scholars at the University of Virginia, local practicing attorneys, and law enforcement specialists to offer advanced training to the Department on topics relevant to their professional duties at no cost to the Department. These programs supplement the Department’s training programs with advanced professional skills and aid in the recruitment, retention, and leadership development of the Department’s staff.
GRANTS PROGRAM
The Foundation helps to secure grants for police equipment, training and technologies that are beyond the reach of the city’s budget. Recent grants have funded crime analysis software, honor guard equipment, translation services, animal control equipment and leadership training.
HOUSING PROGRAM
Most of the police officers who serve Charlottesville commute to work from neighboring towns and counties. Of the approximate 120 officers, only a few own homes in the city. High housing costs are a key obstacle in the department’s ability to recruit and retain great staff and to achieve its goal of being a community-oriented police force. The Foundation helps by working with local banks, real estate agents, property owners and other housing programs to provide customized assistance and education so that our police officers can buy homes and put down roots in the city they serve. The Foundation’s housing program was awarded a Catalyst Grant by the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation.
AWARDS DINNER
The Foundation sponsors an annual Awards Banquet, held each year to recognize and honor the extraordinary work of all the men and women of the Charlottesville Police Department. This formal recognition improves departmental morale and helps challenge department members to perform their duties in a manner above and beyond the normal call of duty. It also serves to remind the community of the dedication of department personnel and the importance of the Department to quality of life in the City of Charlottesville.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
The Foundation’s communications and outreach programs support a vision where the community and police work together to build relationships and solve problems. These programs are designed to create opportunities for community involvement with police and by providing information on police initiatives. In addition to our populare Cops 4 Kids Day, our community outreach activities include: - “Ice Cream with a Cop” program where officers go to different parks around the city throughout the summer to give away ice cream and build relationships with citizens - Citizens Police Academy held for 11 weeks in the Fall, during which time a dozen or so citizens get an in-depth education about the Police Department - Leadership Police Academy - a shortened version of the Citizens Police Academy - which is designed for Charlottesville leaders such as City Council representatives, members of the press, and neighborhood association presidents - Easter Egg Hunt with the community - "Trunk or Treat" for Halloween on the downtown mall and in neighborhoods in the City - "Operation Santa Express" for the holidays, where officers bring toys to children around the City - Hanging out with teens at the Boys & Girls Club on weekend evenings
Directors
- Randy Castleman, President
- Dan Goodall, Treasurer
- Larry Brown
- Laurie Casteen
- Jim Cox
- Leigh Critzer
- Joe Gieck
- Darin Goodwiler
- Bill Hamilton
- Antonio Rice
- Bobbie Spellman
- Mindy Goodall, Executive Director[2]
References
- ↑ Web. Charlottesville Police Foundation, Meet Your Nonprofit, Charlottesville Tomorrow, April 27, 2017, retrieved December 31, 2017.
- ↑ Web. Directors, Charlottesville Police Foundation, retrieved July 6, 2012.