Assistant Chief of Police Darren Stevens presented plans for the Frisco Police Community Foundation during a Frisco City Council workshop Feb. 1. A mission statement unveiled during the workshop said the nonprofit charity organization will aim to “support police personnel, their families and the community.”
Stevens said the foundation will be led, managed and funded by citizens. Plans for the foundation would allow police employees to draft grant proposals, he added. The proposals would then be voted upon by the board to decide which receive funding. In addition, the board will seek to establish scholarships and have a strong focus on employee mental health, Stevens said.
“This is not a foundation where it’s going to be the chief’s pet project or something like that, that gets funded,” Stevens said. “This is something that we want the employees to come forward with some ideas and suggestions on what the needs are.”
Police donors often give money with a specific purpose in mind, such as for the department’s K-9 unit, according to Stevens. He added that funds received will “be used appropriately with the donor’s wishes.”
A three-member board has already been selected. Stephen Paz, a veteran of the Honolulu and Dallas police departments, will serve as chair. Sunitha “Sunny” Cheruvu of the Frisco Inclusion Committee and Jason Dudley of PlainsCapital Bank will serve as vice chairs.
Police Chief David Shilson said the foundation is another example of public-private partnerships in Frisco.
“It's a direct connect between the officers and the community,” Shilson said. “It's really what the board wants to prioritize as their immediate goals.”
The new foundation will not be a replacement for the Frisco Police Officers Association, Stevens said. Moreover, the foundation will not be processed within the city’s budget, Deputy City Manager Henry Hill said.
Bylaws for the Frisco Police Community Foundation are in the works, according to the presentation. The police department aims to launch the new organization by May 1.
