A group of local citizens have come together to help raise money for projects and equipment for the Bartlesville Police Department thanks to the creation of the Bartlesville Police Department Foundation.
The Foundation is an organization formed to support local police and its services to the public through fundraising efforts and donations.
The BPDF was formed after City of Bartlesville couple Grants Administrator Nancy Warring and BPD Sgt. Det. Jim Warring recognized the need and sought support for their idea from Police Chief Tracy Roles.
“I heard about cities with police foundations and wondered if it was something we could do here,” said Nancy Warring. “It would be another source of funding besides grants, and I imagined it would be well supported in a community like Bartlesville that values its law enforcement. Jim took the idea to the new chief. He supported it, and then Jim rounded up some board members.”
Warring said while the Foundation, which was formed in March, is its own separate entity, it must maintain a relationship with the police department. The committee board has nine members: Chair Linda Branstetter, Vice Chair Holly Fouts, Secretary Tammie Strobel, Treasurer Larry Thrash and members Alison Clark, Jon Beckloff, Mike Cromwell, Ed House and Loren Roszel.
“We’ve met 3 times and are currently working on board policies and procedures,” Warring said. She said once the group is firmly established, meetings will likely be reduced to quarterly.
The Foundation will solicit and receive donations. Donations are tax deductible and will be collected through the Bartlesville Community Foundation. Projects/equipment will be chosen based on requests submitted to the BPDF from the police department.