GPF Donates $20,000 to City Police
Jan 15, 2018 01:04PM ● By Kathleen Maris
The Greenville Police Foundation Board (GPF) presented a $20,000 check to The City Police Department in support of its SafeReach Program, which aims to help better equip officers for their safety.
The GPF created SafeReach to help officers be safer and serve safer in hopes to provide them with lighting systems that attach to their firearms, making it easier for officers to quickly and accurately coordinate between their tools.
Ken Miller, chief of police, explains how the lighting systems will allow officers to illuminate and secure their surrounding while still being able to communicate effectively. “High-risk, nighttime situations include many things happening at once — commands, covering your suspect, situational awareness, radio communication, handcuffs, and the lack of illumination,” said Miller. “There’s no time for overreaction or mistakes.”
The check will help reach SafeReach’s goal of raising $40,000 to equip 160 officers with the new lighting system. It costs $250 to equip each officer.
The GPF is constantly seeking opportunities, like SafeReach, to enhance the safety of the Greenville community. Thanks to this foundation, needs are answered and the city police department does not have to wait several years to purchase new safety equipment or implement new training programs.
“A city as dynamic as Greenville has many priorities, and it’s not reasonable to expect that every priority can be fully funded – that’s just the reality," says Jason Richards, GPF board president. "The city and the Greenville Police Department do a great job utilizing the budget they have as effectively as possible, and the Greenville Police Foundation is honored to be able to supplement that where we can.”
The GPF created SafeReach to help officers be safer and serve safer in hopes to provide them with lighting systems that attach to their firearms, making it easier for officers to quickly and accurately coordinate between their tools.
Ken Miller, chief of police, explains how the lighting systems will allow officers to illuminate and secure their surrounding while still being able to communicate effectively. “High-risk, nighttime situations include many things happening at once — commands, covering your suspect, situational awareness, radio communication, handcuffs, and the lack of illumination,” said Miller. “There’s no time for overreaction or mistakes.”
The check will help reach SafeReach’s goal of raising $40,000 to equip 160 officers with the new lighting system. It costs $250 to equip each officer.
The GPF is constantly seeking opportunities, like SafeReach, to enhance the safety of the Greenville community. Thanks to this foundation, needs are answered and the city police department does not have to wait several years to purchase new safety equipment or implement new training programs.
“A city as dynamic as Greenville has many priorities, and it’s not reasonable to expect that every priority can be fully funded – that’s just the reality," says Jason Richards, GPF board president. "The city and the Greenville Police Department do a great job utilizing the budget they have as effectively as possible, and the Greenville Police Foundation is honored to be able to supplement that where we can.”