Current Projects
The West Palm Beach Police Fund (a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) company) was created to serve and protect the very people who ensure that the community remains a safe, vibrant world-class city.
Shop With A Cop
The “Shop With A Cop” program provides funds for children from indigent families to shop with volunteer police officers during the December holidays to purchase gifts for their family, most of whom would have no other means to obtain holiday gifts. This program’s main purpose is to develop a relationship of trust with police that enhances reporting of crimes in neighborhoods where mistrust of law enforcement allows crime to go under reported. Attempts are made to match police with families from the areas that they often patrol.
Explorers
The Fund provides funds and support for the West Palm Beach Police Explorer program, which provides classroom and practical training for young people ages fifteen to twenty-one. Explorers are given hands on experience in police work and interact with various police officers who serve as role models. Candidates complete an application, background check and interview, and submit to random drug testing.
Cops & Scholars
Cops & Scholars is geared toward middle-school age students identified by the police officers who show improvement in school and will reward the students by taking them local city restaurants. The focus is to build relationships and help these kids prepare for their future.The students will be accompanied by uniformed officers, believing this will help to improve relations with the young people and provide an mechanism for direct officer guidance.
Scholarship Program
The Fund offers scholarships to graduating high school seniors who wish to pursue a career in Criminal Justice or Forensic Science, including law enforcement, police, FBI, CIA, cyber security and Homeland Security. Applicants must have a 2.5 GPA or higher. Preference will be given to residents of West Palm Beach, but all Palm Beach County residents are eligible. Eligible graduates must submit a detailed scholarship application.
Citizen's Academy
The Fund provides funds and support for the West Palm Beach Police and Fire Rescue Academy. The Academy covers every area of the Police Department and Fire Rescue in great detail. In addition to classroom training, participants spend four hours on a police ride along, and tour one of the City's fire stations, learning about the latest technology used by the departments. Areas covered in the program include: communications, patrol, K-9 operations, firearm training, SWAT, crime scene, CID, bomb handling, and traffic control.
Equipment, Technology and Training
Each year the Department discovers needs for equipment, new technology or training seminars which haven't been budgeted or were rejected due to budget constraints which would be useful to aid the Department's crime prevention efforts. In such cases, the Department comes to the Foundation to request possible assistance.
National Night Out
National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community and provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Neighborhoods across the nation host various comunity events with safety demonstrations, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and exhibits.