Nonprofit Stand Tall tells Fletcher council it has provided roughly $113,000 in equipment to town police

Stand Tall, a nonprofit that raises money to purchase unbudgeted equipment for law enforcement, told the Fletcher Town Council it has supplied roughly $113,000 in equipment to the Fletcher Police Department over the past four years.

"Our mission is to provide funds solely for unbudgeted needs within law enforcement," Ron Kaufman, Stand Tall’s founder and president, told the council during a presentation. Kaufman said the group has supported multiple area sheriff’s and police departments and has paid for canine units, training and specialized forensic and medical items.

Barb Molton, a Stand Tall board member and the organization’s liaison with the Fletcher Police Department, listed the nonprofit’s recent contributions to Fletcher PD, saying the group funded a fingerprint machine, a dedicated laptop and a Nikon camera with lenses and tripods. "The total on those items was $2,110," Molton said.

Kaufman told council members that Stand Tall operates almost entirely on private donations and runs with unpaid volunteers; he said the group has limited grant funding and that more than 90% of funds raised are disbursed to departments. He described canine purchases in the $9,000–$15,000 range and support for officer mental-health co-pays and specialized forensics equipment.

Council members and staff suggested ways to raise the nonprofit’s local profile. Mayor Clark offered to include Stand Tall in the town’s newsletter and discussed letting the nonprofit attend community events to meet residents and introduce canine teams. Kaufman and Molton said the group would welcome help distributing materials and increasing local donor outreach.

The presentation closed with council appreciation for Stand Tall’s donations and an offer from town staff to coordinate newsletter placement and event outreach. The council did not take a formal vote; the presentation was informational.