As much as they’d love to organize their usual fundraisers to support the Delta Police Department, the Delta Police Foundation isn’t sure what this year’s roster of events will look like with the changing state of the pandemic.
During the first Delta Police Board meeting of the year on Jan. 20, the president of the Delta Police Foundation, Leslie Abramson, updated those in attendance on what they did last year and what they have planned for this year.
“We have the heart. When we go on campaigns, people are so proud of our Delta Police ... between the dogs and our officers, we have a commodity that’s really easy to sell,” said Abramson to the board.
Last year, the foundation arranged for officers to hand out candy to children on Halloween and organized goodie bags for officers to bring home to their children during Christmas time.
They made “Proud of Delta Police” decals to be placed in business windows and on the back of vehicles to support the police “when anti-police things were happening,” said Abramson.
This year, they’re currently still selling Tsawwassen Harmony Initiative Society (THIS) 2022 calendars, which were made in collaboration with the Delta school district, with funds to support the Boys and Girls Club.
And they’ve also secured a supply of blue lights to honour Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day this coming fall, with the hope that Delta residents will put them on their front porch to show support.
“There have been some significant restrictions put on the Delta Police Foundation with, of course, the last two years with the pandemic. However, they’ve still found a way to be able to add value to the Delta Police Department, mostly around youth initiatives and community policing,” said DPD Chief Neil Dubord.
The foundation – which aims to support the relationship between the DPD and the community – typically hosts four different community events, including a leadership conference for youth that they host in collaboration with the school district, a student police academy, a week-long soccer camp and a three-on-three basketball tournament.
They are hopeful to still host the basketball tournament, though it is on standby for the moment along with the soccer academy, and the leadership conference has been pushed to June for now, said Abramson.
