The Flint Police Department is taking a new approach to solving one of its biggest problems: money.
Flint’s declining tax base has meant deep cuts to the city’s police department for well over a decade. The result has been fewer police officers working with increasingly aging equipment.
The new Flint Police Foundation is intended to help fill the gap between the department’s needs and what its budget will allow.
The foundation will search for donors who can either provide cash or equipment.
Flint Mayor Dayne Walling says the hope is the Foundation will initially raise $50,000 for technology upgrades.
Walling adds the money raised by the foundation will be supplemental and will not replace money coming to the police department from Flint’s general fund, police millage or grant funds.
