Rise Tampa Our Police Foundation

TO ENSURE THAT OFFICERS RECEIVE THE LATEST TRAINING, SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY, WE SUPPORT THE VARIOUS UNITS WITHIN THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT SUCH AS THE BICYCLE UNIT, THE K9 UNIT AND THE PISTOL CLUB. ALSO, WE PROVIDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OFFICERS AND CITIZENS THROUGH PROGRAMS SUCH AS RESOURCES IN COMMUNITY HOPE (RICH) HOUSE (SAFE HOUSES FOR KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY), THE EXPLORERS (MENTORING PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN INTERESTED IN POLICE CAREERS) AND BLACK HISTORY.

THE EXPLORER PROGRAM PROMOTES THE CAREER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, TEACHES DISCIPLE AND CONFIDENCE TO CHILDREN, AGES 14-20. THE PROGRAM ALLOWS EXPLORERS TO: COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF 10 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS MONTHLY; LEARN ABOUT FLORIDA CRIMINAL AND TRAFFIC LAWS; AND, PARTICIPATE IN SPECIALTY TEAMS (E.G. BICYCLE & COLOR GUARD). DURING THIS PERIOD, 25 EXPLORERS WERE ENROLLED AND PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM.

THE EXPLORER PROGRAM PROMOTES THE CAREER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, TEACHES DISCIPLE AND CONFIDENCE TO CHILDREN, AGES 14-20. THE PROGRAM ALLOWS EXPLORERS TO: COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF 10 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS MONTHLY; LEARN ABOUT FLORIDA CRIMINAL AND TRAFFIC LAWS; AND, PARTICIPATE IN SPECIALTY TEAMS (E.G. BICYCLE & COLOR GUARD). DURING THIS PERIOD, 25 EXPLORERS WERE ENROLLED AND PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM. THE BLACK HISTORY COMMITTEE'S MISSION IS TO REDUCE CRIME AND ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH A COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL CITIZENS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDE THE HISTORIC EMPHASIS OF PROMOTING EDUCATIONAL AWARENESS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY AND ACHIEVEMENT, AND MAINTAINING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. IN 2022, NINE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY WERE AWARDED MICRO GRANTS TO ASSIST THE COMMUNITY. THE GOAL OF THE K-9 UNIT IS TO ENHANCE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT'S OBJECTIVES IN PROVIDING QUALITY LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THE SPECIALLY TRAINED CANINES ACCOMPANY THEIR HUMAN LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL TO PROVIDE INVESTIGATIVE, SEARCH AND SEIZURE, CRIMINAL APPREHENSION AND OTHER LIFE-SAVING ACTIVITIES. THIS GROUP PROVIDES THE CANINES WITH NECESSARY SUPPLIES SUCH AS VESTS AND TRAINING TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR WORK. WE ARE CURRENTLY SERVING 20 CANINES. THE HOMELESS INITIATIVE'S GOAL IS TO PROVIDE COMPASSIONATE OUTREACH FROM POLICE OFFICERS TO THE HOMELESS POPULATION. EXAMPLES OF OUTREACH INCLUDE REFERRALS TO SOCIAL SERVICES, TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT HOUSING ASSISTANCE, TEMPORARY TRANSPORTATION AND SUPPORT IN OBTAINING BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND IDENTIFICATION CARDS. ON AN AVERAGE DAY, THE TWO OFFICERS INTERACT WITH AT LEAST 20 PERSONS DAILY, RESULTING IN A NET IMPACT OF AT LEAST 1,040 HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS FOR A YEAR. THE PURPOSE OF THE TAMPA POLICE PISTOL TEAM IS TO PROMOTE FIREARMS SAFETY, AWARENESS, AND PROFICIENCY TRAINING. THE TEAM USES COMPETITIVE SHOOTING SPORTS AS A MEANS TO INTERACT WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY AND USING THIS EXPERIENCE TO PROVIDE MORE EFFICIENT TRAINING TO TAMPA POLICE OFFICERS. THE ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PEOPLE SERVED WAS 125. THE MOUNTED POLICE UNIT'S GOAL IS TO ENHANCE AND ASSIST THE UNIFORM PATROL DISTRICTS, AS WELL AS ANY AREA OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. MOUNTED PATROL OFFICERS AND THEIR HORSES ARE SPECIALLY TRAINED FOR CRIME PREVENTION, PUBLIC RELATIONS, CRIMINAL APPREHENSION, DIGNITARY PROTECTION, SEARCH AND RESCUE, SPECIAL ESCORTS, CROWD CONTROL AND CIVIL DISORDER. THE HORSES FOR THE UNIT, AND MUCH OF THE EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING, ARE ACQUIRED THROUGH DONATIONS. OVER THE LAST YEAR, THE UNIT HAD FIVE MOUNTED OFFICERS AND FIVE HORSES. THE TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT'S RESOURCES IN COMMUNITY HOPE (R.I.C.H.) HOUSE PROGRAMS SERVE AS A SAFE HAVEN FOR KIDS IN SULPHUR SPRINGS AND ROBLES PARK. TAMPA POLICE OFFICERS SERVE AS A ROLE MODELS, TUTORS AND LIAISONS BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE SITES OFFER AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING, IN ADDITION TO ACCESS TO FAMILY SOCIAL SERVICES. THE PROGRAM'S FOCUS IS ON EDUCATION, CONFLICT-RESOLUTION, SOCIALIZATION AND SELF-ESTEEM BUILDING. FORTY-FIVE (45) STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED DURING THIS SCHOOL YEAR.

LAW ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT ENCOMPASSES EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING EXPENSES FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND SPECIALTY UNITS. EQUIPMENT INCLUDED A WIDE ARRAY OF PERSONAL PROTECTION AND ASSISTIVE EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND TRAINING SUCH AS AUTOMATED DEFIBRILLATOR DEVICES (AEDS) AND AN AVIATION TRAINING DEVICE.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH INVOLVES A NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT BOTH PROMOTE A POSITIVE INTERACTION BETWEEN POLICE OFFICERS AND THE PUBLIC, AS WELL AS PHILANTHROPY TO THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS. EXAMPLES OF OUTREACH INCLUDED TAMPA NIGHT OUT IN EACH DISTRICT, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND STOP THE VIOLENCE MEETINGS IN EACH DISTRICT, WASHING MACHINE PROJECTS, HALLOWEEN CANDY, THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY MEALS AND BACKPACKS FOR CHILDREN IN SCHOOL.