JERSEY: Area police departments receive donations
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By Carissa Sitki
Photo courtesy of Cindy Wagner
The River Bend police departments received donations of gratitude at the annual Mustache March 4PD Committee appreciation awards ceremony. The Grafton Police Department and Jerseyville Police Department received checks for $2,500. The Jersey County Sheriff’s Department also received a check. Pictured left to right: Grafton Police Chief Eric Spanton, Cindy Wagner of the Jersey County Sheriff’s Department, and Grafton Mayor Morrow.
The River Bend police departments received donations of gratitude at the annual Mustache March 4PD Committee appreciation awards ceremony last Wednesday, Nov. 16. The committee divided and distributed a total of $40,000 dollars in checks payable to each of the River Bend law enforcement agencies.
The local departments plan to use those funds for community betterment.
Police Chief Eric Spanton and Mayor Mike Morrow received a $2,500 check for the Grafton Police Department. Spanton said the donation means a lot and will go far in his department.
“You don’t know how much this money means to a small department such as ours,” said Chief Spanton. “This money will go a long way to help those in our community in need.”
Also receiving checks were Cindy Wagner of the Jersey County Sheriff’s Department (JCSD) and SGT John Lawson and Officer Jake Shain from the Jerseyville Police Department (JPD) who also received $2,500.
Jerseyville Police Chief Brad Blackorby said his department has greatly benefitted from the Mustache March 4PD donations in the past and this year, the plan is to use that money to give back to Jerseyville.
“We’ve used those funds for officer safety, vests, and ballistic gear,” said Blackorby. “This year they’re asking that we use the funds for the community. We’ll be doing things like passing out gift cards and other things of that nature. If someone needs help with something, we’ll be able to do that. We may be able to use these funds throughout the year for different things, like putting someone up in a hotel for the night to get them out of a tough situation.
Blackorby went on to thank Mustache March 4PD for their generosity and support of his department and police in general.
“We really appreciate the support and for giving back to the departments and the community,” said Blackorby. “And we look forward to working with them again next year.”
JCSD Chief Deputy Mark Marshall said that they are not sure what they are going to do with the funds, but that they will have a more concrete plan over the next few weeks.
Mustache March 4PD Committee President Steve Schwegel and Vice President Tina Bennett presided over the event.
The mission of the Mustache March 4PD is to continuously raise funds for local police departments, utilizing a volunteer group. Their goal is to steadily increase the amount of assistance available to local agencies and increase a pro-law enforcement community.
The Mustache March 4PD is an official 501(c) (3). More information about this charitable support agency can be found on their website at https://www.mustachemarch4pd.com/
