Captain Kathy Patton and Shelton police leaders presented a community-donation program at the Aug. 26 study session that would provide officers with restricted, prepaid cards to purchase immediate, small-scale assistance for people they encounter on calls. Patton said the program partners with a nonprofit (presented to council as the Blue Bridge Alliance) that offered an initial $2,500 if the department could raise a matching amount. The department has received a partial match to start and is seeking community donations.
Patton said the fund is not city general-fund money; donations would be held and disbursed for client needs at officers’ discretion within written policy. “100% of that money goes back to our community,” Patton said. Under the proposed controls, the chief and command staff would set card limits, officers would document transactions using an app and submit receipts and a short narrative for each purchase, and the department would notify the chief of larger donations so the city could issue donor acknowledgement letters. Patton said purchases for traffic-related assistance made under a Department of Transportation grant (for example, a small purchase to get a disabled vehicle back on the road) remain 100% reimbursable under that grant and would not come from donated funds.
Patton and the chief explained several use cases the program addresses: officers on scene buying a small meal or clothing for a child taken into custody, purchasing a one-way bus ticket to reunite someone with family outside of town, or buying gas to prevent a stalled vehicle from blocking traffic. Patton said officers will receive documented training and that the department will adopt a clear policy restricting purchases to necessary, nonpersonal items (for example, not for an officer’s personal use).
Council members and the mayor expressed broad support for formalizing what officers already do out of pocket. A council member who spoke during the session said, without formal attribution in the transcript, that they had already made a donation. Council asked about safeguards, documentation and publicity; staff said receipts, short narratives and chief-level oversight will be used to maintain transparency. Patton said donations will be tax-deductible for donors and that the program will include a simple QR-code donation option and outreach to local businesses.
Costs and implementation: Patton said the program itself would not require city general-fund dollars and that staff time for oversight is modest (recordkeeping and coordination). The department’s ask to the council was for informal endorsement and to allow the department to collect and manage donated funds under the departmental policy to be drafted; the council offered support and next steps for implementation.
Distinguishing discussion from action: Council did not adopt a formal ordinance or budget appropriation at the session. Members expressed support and directed staff to proceed with program setup and community outreach; no formal vote was recorded.
Background: Patton introduced the program as a formalization of ad hoc practices by officers who have frequently used personal funds to assist people encountered on calls. The department pointed to similar programs in other Washington cities and emphasized the dual goals of immediate community aid and improved long-term police-community trust and voluntary cooperation.