Mount Holly Police Foundation outlines programs; police department receives 10-year OSHA SHARP recertification

The Mount Holly Police Foundation updated the Mount Holly City Council on the foundation's activities and recent fundraising and presented a replica of the thin-blue-line display for council chambers.

Jeff Kaylor, vice president of the Mount Holly Police Foundation, said the foundation has raised a little over $38,000 over the last three years to support programming for the police department. He listed programs funded by the foundation: a week-long leadership kids camp for elementary students, a "Cops and Bobbers" youth fishing event held at River Street Park, a Shop with a Cop program funded at about $3,000, and a field-of-blue flag display installed during National Police Week. The foundation also contributed to hurricane relief efforts in Asheville, Kaylor said, noting about $5,500 in support.

Joanna Cooper, general manager at the Mount Holly Daimler Truck plant, presented a $4,000 check from the company to the foundation, which Kaylor said also supported hurricane relief with a corporate contribution.

Separately, the Mount Holly Police Department received a 10-year Public Sector SHARP recertification from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a recognition program noted at the meeting. Debbie Rogers Lowry, Mount Holly safety consultant, explained the SHARP criteria: workplaces must maintain injury and illness rates at or below a state average benchmark, request and undergo a consultative OSHA inspection, implement recommended corrections, and demonstrate management and employee commitment to safety. North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley attended the meeting and presented the recertification, praising the department's decade-long safety culture.

No council action was required or taken on either presentation.