MIDDLETON, WI – A local bar out of Middleton, Wisconsin, served as host to a fundraiser to benefit the Middleton Police Department in an effort to help cover the rising costs of officers’ on-the-job equipment where even modest department funding doesn’t quite meet the mark.
In the world of policing, one topic that serves as a frequent pain point for departments and agencies is funding, particularly in the realm of equipment. As Police1 contributor Warren Wilson noted in a 2023 report on the matter, “Budgets are measured in dollars, not equipment.”
The Middleton Police Department is no exception to the realities of modern equipment sometimes falling out of the range of allocated department funding, with Chief Steven Thompson admitting that while the city does assure a fair amount of funding for the department, equipment pricing is outpacing said allocation.
“The cost of technology is raising, and so to offset some of those costs, the law enforcement foundation really comes through for us,” Chief Thompson said of the fundraising efforts organized by the Middleton Law Enforcement Foundation who recently hosted an event at Paul’s Neighborhood Bar.
“All the proceeds go to do the extra little things for the police department, getting us those extra pieces of equipment that just make officers' lives easier,” Chief Thompson stated, adding, “and in turn, makes the community a whole lot safer.”
Thus far, funding from the events organized by the Middleton Law Enforcement Foundation have been used to purchase a utility terrain vehicle utilized by the department’s officers when traversing across various portions of the city consisting of more primitive roads.
“It's fantastic to see all the love and support that we have from our community,” Chief Thompson said in light of the successful fundraising event, adding, “It's just so heartwarming to see… If our job is easier to do, the community is safer.”
In the world of policing, one topic that serves as a frequent pain point for departments and agencies is funding, particularly in the realm of equipment. As Police1 contributor Warren Wilson noted in a 2023 report on the matter, “Budgets are measured in dollars, not equipment.”
The Middleton Police Department is no exception to the realities of modern equipment sometimes falling out of the range of allocated department funding, with Chief Steven Thompson admitting that while the city does assure a fair amount of funding for the department, equipment pricing is outpacing said allocation.
“The cost of technology is raising, and so to offset some of those costs, the law enforcement foundation really comes through for us,” Chief Thompson said of the fundraising efforts organized by the Middleton Law Enforcement Foundation who recently hosted an event at Paul’s Neighborhood Bar.
“All the proceeds go to do the extra little things for the police department, getting us those extra pieces of equipment that just make officers' lives easier,” Chief Thompson stated, adding, “and in turn, makes the community a whole lot safer.”
Thus far, funding from the events organized by the Middleton Law Enforcement Foundation have been used to purchase a utility terrain vehicle utilized by the department’s officers when traversing across various portions of the city consisting of more primitive roads.
“It's fantastic to see all the love and support that we have from our community,” Chief Thompson said in light of the successful fundraising event, adding, “It's just so heartwarming to see… If our job is easier to do, the community is safer.”
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