Police Foundation Donation

As of July 2012, the State of Florida leads the nation together with Georgia, Oklahoma and Texas in Police Officer fatalities.  Sadly, given the current rate of on-duty Police Officer deaths, 2012 will likely mirror or surpass 2011, reaching the unfathomable triple digit benchmark.

In mid FY12, the Police Department identified a need for eighteen sets of body armor for its sworn officers (Full-time, Reserve and Auxiliary).  These units replaced armor that had exceeded the manufacturer’s service life, or were being provided to personnel who were never issued body armor.  The Police Department was unable to budget for these items in the FY12 budget cycle and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bulletproof Vest Partnership program requirements with respect to grant application dates and non-profit corporations did not mirror the Department’s immediate need.

The Marco Police Foundation, a non-political civic-minded charitable organization whose mission includes the encouragement of citizen participation in community safety graciously agreed to donate $9,960.75 to the City of Marco Island to facilitate the immediate purchase of nineteen (19) sets of new body armor.  The Officers who comprise the Marco Island Police Department, their families, the Marco Island Police Department and the City of Marco are extremely grateful for the generous donation from the Marco Police Foundation.