The St. Paul Police Department is getting some financial aid from the St. Paul Police Foundation, to the tune of $62,953.
The St. Paul City Council will accept the donation this week from the foundation, which raises money from individuals and corporations to "strengthen the department and promote public safety."
The donation includes:
- $51,000 for updated SWAT team vests
- $1,307 for Cops and Kids, a motorcade with Santa to hospitals
- $4,000 for Shop with Cops, buying presents with low-income youth
- $3,500 for the Police Athletic League
- $3,146 for Explorers.
Howie Padilla, a police spokesman, said the foundation grants help the department with some community projects outside the normal duties.
"These youth programs, in particular, build relationships with young people and help keep them out of trouble," he said.
The Foundation was founded in 2005 to provide some extra resources for the police department, which is always under budgetary pressure.
Getting extra money from the foundation for things like the SWAT vests, too, means more of the city tax funding can go towards keeping more officers on the streets.
"This helps us give officers the tools they need to keep the city safe," Padilla said.