Port Orchard PD to partner with Blue Bridge Alliance for on‑the‑spot aid; MOU approved with donor-funded model
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Summary
Council authorized a memorandum of agreement allowing Port Orchard officers to distribute donor-funded preloaded debit cards from Blue Bridge Alliance for immediate non-city-funded aid; Chief Brown said no city funds will be used and that internal and external audits will ensure accountability.
Port Orchard's police department will partner with Blue Bridge Alliance, a 501(c)(3) that supplies preloaded debit cards to law-enforcement agencies for immediate aid, after the council approved a memorandum of agreement Jan. 13.
Chief Brown described the program as a tool to provide rapid, on-the-spot help to individuals in urgent need — for example, food, clothes or other sundries — and said no city funds will be used or commingled with donations. "Funding for the program relies exclusively on direct donations to the Blue Bridge Alliance. No city funding will be used, permitted, or commingled with donated resources," the chief said.
Chief Brown said participating officers will receive training, deputy chiefs will conduct regular internal audits, and Blue Bridge Alliance will perform independent reviews. Council members asked about overhead and audit procedures; Chief Brown said Blue Bridge's overhead is lower than many nonprofits and described photographic receipt collection and weekly audits as program safeguards. Staff estimated the program could be operational within two weeks of council approval.
Councilers praised the program and discussed modest seed donations; the MOU was approved by voice vote.