Winnsboro police chief seeks EDC’s informal support for calendar sponsorships and community outreach materials
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Summary
New Police Chief Sam Mayer presented a planned calendar and merchandise fundraising program that would sell ads to cover community-policing items and asked the EDC to consider helping secure local business sponsors; the department asked only for a letter noting city support, not for direct funds.
Sam Mayer, the newly appointed police chief, told the Winnsboro Economic Development Council the department plans to partner with a vendor that sells advertising on a full-color magnetic calendar and related items to raise modest funds for community-policing supplies and outreach.
Mayer said the vendor would sell ads and provide the department with some percentage of sales — Mayer cited roughly 15% as the department’s expected share — and would supply the PD with free items such as 50 customized calendars, 50 coloring books and 50 badge stickers. Mayer said the largest ad size on the sample runs “all the way up to $7.50” (transcript text) and that sponsorship packages range “starting at a hundred and 50 all the way up to $7.50 for the largest ad.” Mayer said the program could produce modest proceeds and gave Kaufman Police Department as a nearby example, telling the council Kaufman received “a check for about, I believe it, they said they got a check for about, it's either 17 or $1,800.”
Mayer framed the effort as community outreach and recognition: “This is to try to help the kids know who we are,” he said, describing customized coloring-book characters and officer profiles the vendor would create. He said proceeds would go toward items such as additional coloring books, stickers and National Night Out supplies.
Mayer said the department did not need an immediate decision from the EDC; the request was to consider helping connect local businesses with sponsorship opportunities and, if available, provide a letter that the city “supports this” so the vendor can approach potential sponsors. Mayer estimated the total cost for the initial package shown by the vendor at about $3,550.
Council members asked clarifying questions about ad pricing and the department’s share. No formal EDC action to provide funds or a letter of support is recorded in the transcript; Mayer said the calendar would be aimed at the 2026 edition and that the PD expects to have outreach items in hand by the start of the school year if production proceeds on schedule.
