Willits, CA – March 27, 2021: While we’ve been quiet this past year, the Public Safety Foundation has not been idle. The coronavirus pandemic impacted people in many ways, changing how we do things. Our last in-person quarterly board meeting was held in January 2020, with several remote written board actions in the months following, and Zoom teleconference meetings commencing in October.

A summary of Board of Directors and Ex-Officio Advisors activity to date:

• $3,500 was approved for purchase of 30 non-contact thermometers for use by law enforcement early in the pandemic, when it was difficult to get this needed equipment.
• $2,550 was contributed at the request of the Community Foundation for endowment funding to match an estate gift, which the donor intended as a scholarship to support Mendocino County graduates in pursuit of a career in law enforcement or probation. The fund is to produce one $1,000 scholarship a year in perpetuity.
• The Safe Kids HERO training program was delayed until the three selected school districts can re-open; meanwhile, our consultant and superintendent of schools kept us informed of status and updates. The program is as relevant as ever, if not more so, and we look forward to restarting this three-year pilot.
• The year’s spotlight on racial justice issues was discussed, covering questions, concerns and how current national events compare to local conditions; all agreed that this conversation and hearing from the community are important to continue.
• Research into innovative approaches to mental health service needs was shared, such as Mobile Outreach Preventive Services (MOPS) and a partnership program in Oregon known as Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets (CAHOOTS).
• Recruitment of qualified personnel was an ongoing issue for our law enforcement partners, and strategies for meeting this need were revisited. In January 2021, up to $5,000 was authorized for a recruitment ad campaign in Police1.com.

We value the support of our members and donors who make this work possible. As an all-volunteer organization, fundraising is limited to meeting law enforcement needs as they arise. The Mendocino Public Safety Foundation looks forward to working with the community in 2021 and beyond. Thank you!

Ukiah, CA – March 21, 2020: This downloadable resource was recently developed by our partner SafeKids Inc., creator of the H.E.R.O. program, in reference to the Coronavirus and kids.

Founder Adam Coughran, M.A., President of Safe Kids, told us: “Realizing we are not experts in this type of danger, yet wanting to help in this situation given our unique ability in providing ways to talk and teach kids about traumatic incidents, we developed this short infographic for parents and teachers. I wanted to share it with you all for use with your own family, friends, within the district, or quite frankly anyone who could benefit from it in these unique times. I hope everyone is safe and healthy, and that this resource can provide a little bit of help or comfort.”

We at the Mendocino Public Safety Foundation urge everyone to follow the directives of your public health officials, and wish all of our community safely through this pandemic.

Ukiah, CA – November 18, 2019: The HERO safety education program is coming soon to three school districts in Mendocino County serving nearly 1,000 students. Following a full year of research into the program and negotiations with its founder, Safe Kids, Inc., the Mendocino Public Safety Foundation gave the green light to start a three-year pilot to test the effectiveness of this innovative program locally.

At the October meeting, the Foundation’s board unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with five signatories: Mendocino County Office of Education (MCOE); Safe Kids, Inc.; Arena School Districts; Leggett Valley Unified School District; and Round Valley Unified School District. The Foundation will serve as fiscal agent, Safe Kids will provide training to the schools, and MCOE will work with district administrators to gather data that can assist in determining results of the pilot. Based on that eventual report, the Foundation will consider expansion of HERO countywide.

The three school districts were selected through an application process using criteria determined by the Foundation in collaboration with Michelle Hutchins, Mendocino County Superintendent of Schools. The Foundation will cover the approximately $20,000 project cost. We thank MCOE for their support in this effort.

Initiated by law enforcement officers and educators, the program “is specifically designed to teach K-12 students how to respond to violence with simple, easy-to-remember and truly effective strategies. Based on Empowerment Theory, the H.E.R.O. Program gives students the confidence to respond to any kind of danger…teaches students to overcome these situations by empowering them and instilling confidence in their own decision-making abilities.” For more information visit https://safekidsinc.com.

The project is a result of our search for an appropriate and meaningful response to the nation’s gun violence epidemic, almost since the Foundation’s 2011 inception. The tragic shooting a year later in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut began a dialogue to find a role within our tax-exempt 501c3 charitable mission of public safety that could somehow address this ongoing problem in our society. We are gratified and inspired to work with others creating positive solutions that reach across a diversity of cultures.

Posted by J. Orth

Ukiah, CA – June 3, 2019: The Public Safety Foundation is pleased to accept a $10,000 donation from the Savings Bank of Mendocino County for the purchase of a pet disaster relief trailer equipped with crates. As described in their letter:

With the funds from the bank, Sheriff Tom Allman and George Hodges will purchase the trailer and have a graphic image applied that includes the bank’s logo. This pet disaster relief trailer will be used locally and potentially as mutual aid in nearby counties to provide a safe place for pets during a disaster.

Knowing that their pets are safe and receiving care will allow families to have some peace of mind, so they can focus on their personal evacuation and recovery needs.

As we approach another wildfire season, many thanks to our local community bank for this valuable contribution to Mendocino County’s safety needs!

Ukiah students rally for gun safety at the Courthouse

Ukiah, CA – March 24, 2018: Local students gathered with sympathetic community members at Alex Thomas Plaza, then marched down State Street to the Courthouse for a rally to end gun violence. The event coincided with over 800 marches in cities throughout all 50 states and every continent except Antarctica. The groundswell of action followed the school shooting in Parkland, Florida on Valentine’s Day.

At our meeting of March 22, the Foundation discussed how we can constructively address the growing problem of gun violence, in ways consistent with our role as a 501c3 nonprofit organization. It is not the first time the board has considered this controversial issue. With a movement sweeping the country, now the time is ripe to reopen the conversation. We have several ideas and will consult our membership before proceeding with any major new program. In the meantime, we think it’s important to maintain an open dialogue and find common ground among our diverse community.

Photo by J. Orth

Ukiah, CA – Recently it came to our attention that our contact address, info@protectmendocino.org, had not been restored after the crash of our domain over a year ago. We were still getting your PayPal donations, since another email was active. But the address posted on this website did not function. Because of turnover in our board volunteer team (the Foundation has no staff), this took awhile for us to notice and repair. The good news is that info@protectmendocino.org is now up and running again.

We at the Mendocino Public Safety Foundation offer our sincere apologies to anyone who tried and failed to reach us. Please be assured that the Foundation is alive and well, meets regularly, and is always looking for more and better ways to support our local law enforcement agencies. Our board members appreciate all of membership and donors to this organization, and we invite the community to contact us anytime.

Other ways to reach us: By voice mail at (707) 467-3661 or by mail to P.O. Box 123, Ukiah, CA 95482. Thank you, and stay tuned for more news of the Foundation!