APD Annual Reports - 2017 Annual Report | Page 36

Police Foundation Building Community Support for the APD Mission The Arlington Police Foundation took their support for the Arlington Police Department to new heights in 2017. Membership Drives and the Annual Back the Blue Bash were among the successful fundraising efforts planned and organized by members of the Arlington Police Foundation with widespread support from the Arlington and Tarrant County business community. The Back the Blue Bash surpassed attendance and fundraising goals in 2017 when guests gathered for a grand celebration of police partnerships. Event Chairperson Bethany Tinderholt said close to $100,000 was raised in one single night in support of fundraising. “Every year, we set out to make 36 the Back the Blue Bash bigger and better than the year before and we have the Arlington community to thank for our continued success,” she said. Along with an annual monetary contribution from the John V. and Jerri McMillan Memorial fund, the foundation also sponsored the Police Awards Ceremony in 2017. Close to 750 guests gathered at the Convention Center in February 2017 to honor the APD Officer of the Year, Detective of the Year, Rookie of the Year and a number of other award recipients. The Annual Ceremony also recognized outstanding business and citizen/community partnerships who contri- bute to the mission of the APD. “The financial support we receive from the Police Foundation allows us to express to officers and professional staff how important their work is to the safety of everyone in Arlington,” said Police Chief Will Johnson. “Every officer and non-sworn professional member of the Arlington Police Department knows that their contribution to a safer Arlington is being noticed.” The Police Foundation provides support for various programs that enable officers to create and sustain partnerships in the community that promote crime prevention and crime reduction. In Annual Report 2017 2017, for example, they provided financial support to the APD Honor Guard, K9 Unit and Mounted Patrol Unit. During times of great sacrifice, the Foundation provides assistance to the families of fallen officers. Chairman Jim Ross said the Police Foundation was also able to grow its leadership in 2017 with the addition of new board members. “The Police Foundation is a charitable organization created to support the men and women of the Arlington Police Department and the work they do to help our community,” Jim Ross said. “The Arlington Police Foundation recognizes that crime prevention is a job for everyone and we are proud to support the police and our community for the important role we all have in working together for a safer city.”