Police group focusing on community

By Kristin Edwards
Staff Reporter

July 17, 2008 12:16 am

— The Huntsville Police Officer’s Association recently elected and installed new presiding officers to its governing board, and their election marks the association’s current goal to increase its positive affect on the community.
According to Sgt. James Fitch of the Huntsville Police Department, who was elected as president of the association, the group’s primary focus has always been community involvement.
After several years of a more relaxed approach, Fitch said the association plans to step up its fundraising activities, benefits and hosted community events in an effort to re-connect with local citizens.
“The Huntsville Police Officer’s Association is a voluntary organization made up of officers and civilian staff from the Huntsville Police Department,” Fitch said. “In the near future, HPOA intends to become even more involved with the community and make an effort to help people who may be in need.”
In addition to community involvement, HPOA members sponsor youth sporting teams and conduct fundraisers for a variety of organizations.
“We already offer scholarships to Huntsville High School seniors every year, and we’re also looking into doing benefits for charities,” Fitch said. “We have several things in the planning stages right now.”
According to Blane Rodgers, newly-elected HPOA secretary, the new leadership in the organization has inspired all 51 members to become more involved within the community.
“With the election of the new officers and the new approach we’ve adopted, I feel our affect in the community will be more positive,” he said. “Right now, there’s more initiative to go out and make our organization more seen in the community.”
In addition to the activities which are already a part of HPOA’s mission, Fitch said the organization also hopes to raise funds in order to support the HPD in the future.
“Eventually, if we have enough money, we might look into raising money to purchase items for the department which would be donated,” Fitch said. “The HPOA may also start getting involved in other events, like the annual Fair on the Square.
“It’s important to realize that our organization stands independent of the department. The only common factor is that this is not a public organization, so you have to work at the department to be a part of HPOA.”
Rodgers said one of HPOA’s hopes is for community members to recognize the organization and its participants at public events.
“The last thing we want is to be at a fundraiser and have people walk by without having any idea who we are,” he said. “What we would like is to have some kind of voice out there among the community so people know who we are and what we’re doing for them.”
By continuing to build on the foundation set by more than 15 years in the community, Fitch said the members of HPOA also hope to be seen as people, not as uniforms.
“So many times, people see police officers and only see a uniform,” he said. “Through the activities we organize with HPOA, we’re hoping citizens will be able to see us from behind the uniform.
“We want them to see the people we are and how much we care about the community.”
For more information on HPOA, contact Fitch at hpoa911@gmail.com.